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PRACTICAL ESSAYS 



ON 



HYPNOTISM 



AND 



MESMERISM. 



Dr. T. J. Betiero. 



PRINTER'S ERROR.— Page 71. Third line from top should 
read can instead of cannot. 




H\ 






I0-1V1 fo 






PRACTICAL ESSAYS 



ON 



HYPNOTISM 



T*\ 



AND 



MESMERISM 



Dr. T. J. Betiero. 




CHICAGO,^ 

1412 Masonic Temple. 









9.J44 



Copyright 1897, by Dr. T. J. Betiero. 
All rights reserved. 



Sent to any address, postpaid, on receipt of price, $1.00, 
ZELAH & CO., * 

1412 Masonic Temple, Chicago, 111. 



CONTENTS. 

Introduction ..... 5 

The Grand Natural Law . . .8 

Various Electrical Currents . . 14 

The Mechanics of Hypnotism . . 23 

Is Hypnotism Dangerous? . . .44 

Mesmerism Differentiated from Hypno- 
tism ...... 65 

How to Mesmerize .... 73 

How to Induce Hypnosis ... 82 

Therapeutic Application of Hypnotism 97 

Strange Phenomena . . . 107 

Mental Suggestion at a Distance . 113 

The Universal Fluid ... 117 

Theory of a Future State . . 136 



Ifntro&uction, 

^^HE plienomena of hypnotism are, atpres- 
\m ent, receiving an unusual amount of 
investigation at the hands of scientists, emi- 
nent physicians, and many of the laity who 
desire to know the truth, and understand the 
principles, upon which is based this myster- 
ious science. 

We are told by some that it is not myster- 
ious, being* simply a manifestation of natural 
laws. Admitting* such to be the fact, is it 
not clothed in the deepest mysticism? As 
heretofore, among* all the investigators and 
demonstrators of the'world, not one has been 
able to g*ive an explanation worthy of accept- 
ance. After the acknowledged failure of so 
many brilliant lights of the scientific firma- 
ment to give a lucid explanation, the author 
of this little work can only promise to give 
in plain words his practical experience with 
the subject, with such theories and deduc- 
tion^ as are considered tenable, together with 
vsuch hints and explanations, as will enable 

(5) 



(> PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

others to investigate, for themselves, the 
causes which produce hypnosis, as well as the 
immediate and future effects which result in 
evil or good. You will find some statements 
herein that may seem extravagant, but they 
have all been proven by careful experiment 
and observation. One chapter only will be 
devoted to theorizing, and that will be speci- 
fied by " Theory of a future state." 

Some readers may find a few things of 
interest, others may consider it an uninterest- 
ing presentation, but all will find something 
entirely new. The circulation of the blood, 
as stated here, may be denied, but cannot be 
disproved. One favor, only, we ask of those 
who differ w r ith our assertions, and that is, 
" Proof to the contrary." Such definitions 
and rules as will be found herein, are not 
given arbitrarily, simply for convenience in 
treating the subject. 

No theory will be given, or assertion 
made, without proof, which may be deficient 
in quantity, but we have implicit confidence 
in the quality. 

The author is a graduate of a well-known 
v European college, and has spent some years 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 7 

in the practice of medicine according* to the 
regular school. The last six years, however, 
he has abjured the use of all poisonous drugs, 
and, in fact, has made but few demands upon 
" Materia Medica," except such as were 
needed for the antiseptic precautions of sur- 
gical interference. 

The pleasing results of latter years, com- 
pared to the mediocrity of former success, 
renders firmer every day the conviction, that 
Electro-Hypnotic treatments, together with 
modern antiseptic surgery, will be the accepted 
therapeutic remedies of the near future. 

The use of the words, hypnotism, hypnotic 
and hypnotized are made necessary to express 
phenomena that are much different from 
"Nervous Sleep," which Mr. Braid, the 
originator of the term, intended to specify. 

Some phases of this science will be touched 
upon that have not before received sufficient 
attention and investigation to have hitherto 
received appropriate designations, so an 
occasional mis-application of these words 
may be technically noted, according to the 
original application of the term hypnotism, 
for which your indulgence is respectfully 
requested. The Author. 



Zhe 6ran& IRatitral %a\v. 

♦fTN this perfect universe, we are confronted 
on all sides by a great and mysterious 
force, all the manifestations and phenomena 
of which are results of a grand and infallible 
law of nature; it controls the movements of 
the planets, holds in position the fixed stars, 
or presides over their aberrations, together 
with the myriads of other heavenly bodies 
situated in the vast solar space, of which our 
own insignificant planet occupies but an 
extreme!} 7 modest place. 

This great force does not expend itself in 
the limitless realms of ether, nor in the differ- 
ent layers of atmosphere, but enters more or 
less into every known substance, and attends 
the growth and development of all vegetable 
and animal life, including man. 

Scientists have used various names to 
designate the different manifestations of this 
tremendous force. Centripetal and centrifu- 
gal are names given to the attraction and 
repulsion, which keep the planets in their 

( 8) 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 9 

several orbits. It may be, however, attrac- 
tion and counter-attraction, as who knows, 
but, beyond the uttermost limits of our uni- 
verse, there may be yet a grander center of 
attraction! In the great sidereal universe, 
around which our own constantly moves, at 
any rate, two known forces exist. 

If the sun should lose its power of attrac- 
tion, these great bodies would race through 
space in opposite directions, in answer to 
that counter-attraction. 

If, on the contrary, the opposing* force 
were relaxed, the planets would rush with 
terrific velocity into the bosom of the sun. 

Some claim, and no doubt correctly, that 
the regularity of motion observed throughout 
the solar system, is due to the law of 
magnetic attraction and repulsion. Others, 
entitled to an equal consideration, maintain 
that it is the result of electrical phenomena, 
thus confirming what we shall attempt to 
prove, that magnetism is but a different 
name, and the term electricity embraces it 
all; the positive and negative currents mani- 
festing the attraction and repulsion, 

By the action of these forces, the levolu- 



10 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

lion of the earth upon its axis is made possible, 
creating- the convenient division of day and 
night; the earth moves around the sun, giving 
us the various seasons and many other well- 
known conditions, for the explanation of 
which we are indebted to those most inter- 
esting* sciences, Astrology and Astronomy. 
Few can contemplate this great perfection 
and regularity of movement without recog- 
nizing behind it all the will of an infinite 
Creator. 

As man has been for ages accumulating 
such imperfect knowledge as now exists in 
regard to the grand law of nature, how much 
less can he hope to grasp the omnipotent 
source of its origin? 

An eminent metaphysician and divine, 
after spending years reflecting upon the 
creative power, origin of the omnipotent, 
probabilities cf a future state, etc., having 
arisen early one morning, strolled down near 
the seashore and chanced to see there the 
child of a poor fisherman carrying water in 
his cap from the sea to a small hole, a short 
distance away on the beach, which he had 
made with his little hands. " What are vou 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 11 

doing, my dear little fellow? ' ' he asked. "I'm 
going to put all the water out of the sea in 
this little hole," the child innocently replied. 
He walked on; but that fisherman's little 
child had taught him an everlasting lesson, 
namely: That man, being a finite being, was 
never intended to comprehend the infinite. 

He likened man's capacity for receiving 
and retaining knowledge unto the little hole, 
and compared the boundless tract of water 
to the vast unexplored fields of knowledge 
upon the edge only of which we are now 
standing. 

In this world there is nothing new. Like 
the philosopher of old once said, "There is 
nothing new under the sun." 

In the investigation of psychic phenomena, 
we have merely had our attention directed to 
another phase of this universal force; our 
researches can only extend so far; like all 
previous attempts to reduce natural phenom- 
ena to an exact science, we are doomed to 
failure, 

The mind of man, while in his mortal 
tenement, is incapable of more than finite 
knowledge. 



12 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

The mysteries of nature's great laboratory 
have been contemplated since the days when 
the earth was young. 

Investigation has but pierced the external 
shell, within which man has invariably 
been confronted with the light of knowledge 
shining* too bright for his material eyes. 
Nothing daunted, however, he invents a 
name, which is meant to embrace all that is 
too deep for his comprehension. 

Each pioneer in the field of knowledge also 
exercises the right to name the inexplicable 
for himself. Thus we find Magnetism, Zoo- 
magnetism, Aura, Glaume, all used with 
many others to designate that greatest of all 
known forces, Electricity. And as all forms 
of electricity receive specific names to differ- 
entiate them, according to the different 
qualities imparted by the numerous methods 
of generation, we shall, in referring to the 
subtle fluid emanating from all animals, use 
the common term, Animal Electricity, for 
this force does exist, and is the mysterious 
element which manifests itself in mesmerism, 
hypnosis, and all forms of psychic phenom- 
ena. 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 



13 



Electricity is the messenger of the gods, 
directed by the positive and negative poles! 
The time is near when it will be recognized 
as the universal force. 



^ 



:>, 



<& 



IPartous Electrical Currents* 

HS we claim, and shall attempt to prove, 
that hypnosis is produced by electric- 
ity, acting* upon the ideational centers within 
the law of vibration, it may not be amiss to 
devote a few remarks to the force, for which 
we claim so much, and know so little. 

Since Franklin, with bottle and kite, 
secured the first by induction, man, ever 
inquisitive and ready to learn, has made 
rapid strides in knowledge concerning* this 
subtle fluid; he has succeeded in harnessing* 
it, and making* of it his servant. 

Yet, even so, we can only be on the thres- 
hold of understanding*, and beyond us, in the 
beautiful temple of knowledge, who can 
predict what may or may not be discovered? 

It has been proved that electricity has 
properties, or qualities, differing* according* to 
the substance from which it is derived, and 
the method of its generation. 

In the province of medicine this is an all 
important consideration. The g*alvanic, g*al- 
vano cautery, faradic, static, etc., all have 

( 14) 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 15 

a different therapeutic value. The name, 
"electricity," does not explain much, being 
derived from the Greek word for "amber," 
as it was first observed in the friction of that 
substance. 

As yet, little is known of its nature, and 
for convenience it is denominated "electric 
fluid " because it has a greater resemblance to 
an elastic fluid of extreme rarity than any- 
thing* else with which we are acquainted. The 
phenomena of electricity are such as attrac- 
tion and repulsion, heat and light, shocks to 
the animal system and mechanical violence. 

The two poles of different chemical ele- 
ments are known as positive and negative. 
Faraday discovered that the quality of elec- 
tricity is changed by different methods of 
induction; thus, by winding a copper wire 
around a bar of iron, the current which 
bears his name was discovered, and is termed 
primary. By winding another coil around 
the primary, the secondary faradic current 
is obtained. 

No one will say, because of this change in 
quality, it is not electricity. Friction upon 
dry glass will also produce this fluid; by 



1(> PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

stroking the hairs of a cat's back a percep- 
tible spark may be generated; by sliding* tlu 
shoes upon a Brussels carpet enough can hi 
easily obtained to ignite a gas jet by simpl) 
touching with the finger. 

Why, then, does not the electricity obtainec 
by rubbing together of the hands, or an) 
form of vigorous massage, not receive its 
proper name? Instead of which, magnetism 
Zoomagnetism, Aura, and many other names 
are used, 

Electricity is known to exist, more or less 
in all substance, animate or inanimate. Anat 
omists and physiologists have discovered tha j 
electrical currents are continually passing 
through the muscular fibres. Future inves 
tigation will no doubt prove it the essenc* 
of vitality. 

Erroneous ideas may be taught and accep 
teci for centuries, yet vanish in a momeir 
under the flashlight of discovery; for in 
stance, the Ancients were for ages in ig'nor 
ance of the circulation of the blood, believing 
that it moved once daily from the heart tt 
the periphery, returning to the heart anc 
large arteries during sleep. One reason foi 



HYPNOTISM AND MKSM^RISM. 17 

such an opinion was, that after death, as 
now, the arteries were found almost entirely 
devoid of blood; thus originating- and support- 
ing* the theory of tide-like ebb and flow. 
This condition is now well known to be the 
result of capillary action, which continues 
for a short time after death. It remained for 
Harvey to explain the circulation of the 
blood, as he understood it. 

Since which time, it has been taught and 
believed that the heart, impelled by some 
mysterious power within itself, propels the 
blood through all the intricate, though well 
known, channels of circulation (i. e., arter- 
ies, capillaries and veins), making' a complete 
circuit of the bxly once in every seven 
minutes. 

It has also been computed, for the appar- 
ent astonishment of pupils, no doubt, that 
this important organ forces no less than six 
tons daily through the human body; think 
what an annual task it must have. And the 
student is furthermore informed, that the 
source or nature of this power is unknown. 

Future generations must needs smile at 
this age of enlightenment. For although the 



18 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

heart is the strongest muscular organ of the 
boch T , it neither does nor could perform such 
a task. 

If the heart is not the propelling power, 
what then is? may be asked. The answer 
is, Electricity, by vivification of the blood. 
The blood has long been termed the river of 
life, and with reason; yet, we may go a step 
farther, and, with the Haematherapists, pro- 
claim it the living RIVEK, which must then, 
of course, have power of motion within itself, 
a fact easily demonstrated by the microscope, 
under which corpuscles may be seen rushing 
hither and thither in the liquor sanguinis, until 
by action of the atmosphere, precipitation, 
coagulation and death of the component parts 
occur; although it is shown that the blood 
has the powder of motion within itself, such 
power only exists after having been charged 
by inhalation with electricity. It then rushes 
on, through its known course, to the heart, 
imparting the power of life and motion to 
that organ, enabling it to draw back to itself 
the venous blood which, having served its 
purpose in the animal economy, is almost 
devoid of electricity, and must needs return 
to the lungs for a fresh supply, etc. 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 19 

As proof of the above statement, which 
must some day be accepted, as truth must 
rise above prejudice, we give the following*: 

First. — The arteries are closely followed 
by a large number of nerve filaments, whose 
duty it is to conduct a portion of this force 
to the brain, which is the storage battery of 
the body. 

Second. — If impure air is inhaled (that 
which does not contain a proper amount of 
electricity) , the blood at once becomes vitiated, 
the heart beats feebly, and the pulse weakens. 

Third. — By examination of the veins, the 
arterial nerve accompaniment will be found 
wanting, for the obvious reason that the veins 
contain but little, if any electricity, or certainly 
none to spare for the brain. The presence of 
nerves would there be useless — a condition 
not found in any of the works of the Creator. 

Thus, we observe, that every human body 
is being constantly charged with electricity, 
which is necessary for the maintenance of 
life. Electricity is also constantly freeing 
itself from the body, the difference of per- 
ceptible projection being modified by the 
atmospheric state, as well as the health 



20 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

and vitality of the individual. In proof of 
which: — 

First. — If a person is alone in a quiet room, 
reading, meditating", or engaged in any 
occupation compatible with almost perfect 
silence, it will be found impossible for another 
to approach near to him, without the 
former becoming aware of the latter's pres- 
ence. Some may claim that the approach 
may be detected by the auditory nerve, but 
the author has experimented with a mute, and 
found the same effect. 

Second, — Most physicians have found, by 
practical observation, that if two persons 
habitually sleep together, one an invalid, and 
the other in perfect health, or one old and 
the other young, the invalid w 7 ill improve, 
while the person in good health w^ill become 
affected; the elder will take on renewed 
strength, and the youth or child will grow 
prematurely old. Therefore, for hygenic 
reasons, separate beds are usually recom- 
mended, even for man and wife. 

Third. — Our law of attraction says, "un- 
like attracts, and like repels." Some bodies 
disperse positive electricity, and others nega- 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 21 

tive, which explains many heretofore unex- 
plained peculiarities. For instance, the 
marked and unaccountable antipathy of <L,ome 
persons to each other at first sigiit, and the 
many recounted instances of seemingly spon- 
taneous love and friendship, under similar 
circumstances. Few observers cannot but 
remember some experience, as when walking 
down the street or elsewhere, they were 
passed by some person entirely unknown, 
whose very passing* presence seemed t3 
irritate and awaken a feeling" of passive re- 
sentment, or vice versa. 

Thus, a knowledge of this great funda- 
mental principle of life will make clear many 
things seeming'ly mysterious at present. 

Everyone should become familiar with 
animal electricity, at least, sufficiently so, to 
recognize the laws of attraction and repulsion. 
This animal electricity is set free at all parts 
of the surface of the body, and extends a 
variable distance into the surrounding* atmos- 
phere, placing* every human being thereby in 
the center of a circle of electricity peculiar 
to himself, in so far as it is either positive 
or negative. To be attracted or repelled by 



22 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

another, though such may be almost imper- 
ceptible, it is not necessary that we should 
come into actual contact, as in handshakings 
but simply that the periphery of our electric 
circles touch each other. If both persons 
are positive, or both negative, the effect is 
repulsion. Should one be positive, however, 
and the other negative, it is attraction. 
This fact accounts for the greater or less 
success of hypnotists in the control of sub- 
jects, and explains much ordinary, yet 
hitherto inexplicable phenomena. It is im- 
possible for any one to be hypnotized by 
another who has the same current, farther 
then the first stage, known as lethargy* 
which can be induced by any one, per se y 
without the presence of a hypnotist, to which 
we will refer more fully elsewhere. 




Ube /IDecbanfcs of Hypnotism* 

^^^HEi numerous explanations of hypnotism, 
^^ and the methods by which hypnosis 
may be induced, has done little more than 
confuse investigators; at least, those who 
have not had success in personal experiments. 
Some may, therefore, think there is some 
secret witheld by the hynotist. 

Such is not the case, however. The truth 
is that very few hypnotists have any concep- 
tion of the true mechanism by which it is 
induced. They observe, record effects, and 
confine themselves to an explanation of the 
physical means by which they have suc- 
ceeded in inducing- this state. The explana- 
tion varies according to the auto-suggestions 
of the hypnotist. The spiritualist attributes 
it to some spiritual agency. The magnetic 
operator says it is magnetism. The materi- 
alistic hypnotist claims that it is due to 
suggestion only, and so with different ones, 
their conception varies, according to the 
manner in which they view the subject, all 

(23) 



24 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

of which fail, as a clear explanation. The 
firmness with which each attempts to defend 
his opinion may be realized by the following- 
story of the two gladiators, w T ho were 
advancing* towards each other along* a public 
highway: When within speaking* distance, 
they g'lanced up at an imposing* statue,, 
which separated them, one exclaiming', 
4 'What a beautiful silver statue!" "It is a 
gold statue," the other replied. "Do you 
think my eyes deceive me?" the former 
sharply retorted. "I mean to say," replied 
the latter angrily, "that it is gfold, and if 
you say otherwise, you insinuate that I lie,, 
which insult can only be effaced with the 
sword!" The other, equally as rash and 
brave, advanced with drawn sword to defend 
his opinion. At last, one of them fell mor- 
tally wounded. Before resuming his journey, 
however, the victor looked at the statue from 
the other side, and discovered the cause' of 
error; it was gold on one side and silver on 
the other. 

Thus, with many hypnotists. Each one 
sees and comprehends the subject from his 
side alone, and will not trouble himself to 



HYPKOTlSM AND MESMERISM. 2$ 

walk around the statue, but rests serenely 
confident, in his own opinion, and will not be 
convinced. 

We are told that there is no subtle fluid, 
no magnetic or electric current flowing* from 
operator to subject. Yet, we are not favored 
with any proof to that effect. It is impossi- 
ble for a materialist to satisfactorily explain 
psychic phenomena, however deep or pro- 
found his learning*. The positive sciences 
alone are within his grasp. 

As Dr. Wyld, of Edinburgh, tersely 
expresses it, ''When questioned, the materi- 
alistic hypnotist can give no further explana- 
tion beyond a form of words, seemingly in- 
vented to hide his ignorance; and yet, we are 
told, that Elliotson, Simpson, Gregory, 
Whately, Hamilton, Chambers, and hundreds 
of wise men were in total ignorance of the 
subject," now scientifically explored, for the 
first time. 

There are as many theories as there are 
schools, and as many ideas as there are 
individuals. What the public desires now 
ARE PEAIN EACTS, fortified with acceptable 
proof. Enough theories have already been 



26 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

disseminated to confuse the majority of 
seekers for the truth, and render almost 
obscure that universal force by which alone 
hypnosis can be induced, namely: "Elec- 
tricity acting* within the law of vibration," 
which is the only true fundamental principle 
which cannot be explained away. 

Although the subject of hypnotism has 
been reviewed, and is constantly receiving' 
attention, both in scientific literature and the 
realm of fiction, the former treating- it as an 
issue, which must be proved step by step, 
before its elevation from the ranks of so- 
called pseudo-sciences; the latter receiving' 
additional charm by the introduction of this 
mysterious force, there is yet an obvious lack 
of positive information. The latter, espec- 
ially distorting- the power of hypnotism into 
so grotesque and horrible a monster, that 
those whose knowledg-e of the subject has 
been obtained from this source alone, cannot 
fail to have the most erroneous ideas of its 
possibilities. 

Bernheim defines hypnotism as "the induc- 
tion of a peculiar psychical condition, which 
induces susceptibility to sug-gestion," which 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 27 

is correct as far as it goes, as it is "the in- 
duction of a peculiar psychical condition, 
which induces susceptibility to suggestion," 
said induced condition, being the effect of 
electrical phenomena acting in harmony with 
the law of vibration. Hypnotism may be 
divided, and subdivided, into a number of 
divisions indicating a more or less profound 
state, the principal ones being: 

First, lethargy; second, somnambulism; 
third, catalepsy. The first is the lethargic 
or drowsy condition, and it is doubtful if it 
should hold a place in hypnotism proper, as 
it may be induced by any person, per se, 
without even the presence of a hypnotist. It 
is a necessary condition, however, which must 
invariably precede the true state of objective 
hypnosis. Through a misapprehension of 
this state have arisen a great many contra- 
dictory reports upon hypnotic phenomena. 
Lethargy is merely the result of a decreased 
amount of blood in the brain, which also 
means a diminished quantity of electricity in 
the storage battery of the body. 

Upon this condition alone hinges the 
assurance that of late has been generally 



PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

accepted on this continent only. That is? 
anyone can become a hypnotist! This is an 
erroneous idea, as many will attest who 
have carefully followed explicit instruction, 
and have failed; although anyone may induce 
lethargy, who has studied the subject suf- 
ficiently to comprehend the cause, which is 
but concentration upon some simple object, 
said object having' the tendency to induce the 
quiescent state. This preparatory condition 
is induced generally by the involuntary action 
of the patient, although it can be facilitated 
by a number of well known aids. Yet this 
first state is far from being- the profound 
phenomena of hypnosis. 

When the subject is assured positively 
that he cannot open his eyes, he generally 
does so, at the same time telling the amateur 
that t4 He is not able to hypnotize him." He 
(the subject) has too strong* a mind, and many 
similar remarks, the result of which is, the 
inexperienced OPERATOR is partially mag- 
netized into believing that he cannot. 

As a matter of fact, if, as the materialist 
claims, there is no subtle fluid, magnetic or 
electric, which passes between the operator 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 29 

and the subject, the fact would yet remain, 
that in no line of work, mental or physical, 
are all men equal. From a mechanical act of 
the most simple nature, to the exploration 
and investigation of the most abstruse science, 
a great difference of ability and comprehen- 
sion will be found among* all classes and 
nations of mankind. 

But, there exists a fluid! Animal electric- 
ity, which is essential to the induction of pro- 
found hypnosis; and we hope to prove it, to 
all unprejudiced readers of this little book. 
We use the term "unprejudiced" with due 
consideration, for well we know how loth 
are many to admit the potency of this uni- 
versal force. It was for many years ignored 
by physicians as a therapeutic agent; it was 
tested and discountenanced, for the simple 
reason that they had not learned to differ- 
entiate the cases in which its use was, or 
contraindicated; its value has only recently 
been admitted. At present no physician's 
office is complete without electrical apparatus, 
varying from a small battery of fifteen or 
twenty cells to a magnificent switchboard. 
The result of scientific investigation of 



30 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

this subject, now being* pursued in various 
parts of the world has, among- other thing's, 
been to deny and state that the brig-lit object 
held up before the patient's eyes is necessary. 
Second, that the passes of the hand are of no 
use, being* merely to give an imposing- effect 
to spectators. The existence of, as well as 
the necessity of, the current of animal elec- 
tricity has even been doubted. 

Some, who claim to be authority, tell us 
that it is solely due to the "law of sugges- 
tion," which, in itself, explains nothing-. 

There are many means by which the 
letharg-ic state may be induced. It is a well 
known physiological fact, that especial exer- 
cise of any org-an or tissue of the body 
attracts to that particular region an increased 
supply of blood, and vice versa. The object 
to be obtained i:i the first stag°e of hypnosis 
is to decrease the amount of blood in the 
brain, which may be accomplished by a num- 
ber of methods. Among them may be named 
that of having the patient direct his eyes to 
a bright object, about the size of a twenty- 
five cent piece, held about twenty inches from 
his eyes; or, by directing his attention to any 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 31 

particular spot on his closed hands; or, by 
having- him look one steadily in the eyes, etc. 
So, if the bright object is not needed, some 
other simple point of concentration must be 
used at first, although by successive treat- 
ments of certain persons, they may all be dis- 
pensed with. 

Next, v. e will explain that the passes are 
extremely useful, if not absolutely necessary, 
for the reason that to produce the secondary 
or tertiary stage, the eyes must be kept 
steadily fixed upon the subject for a length 
of time, dependent upon the power of the hyp- 
notist, and the sensitiveness of the subject. 
No one ever heard of a patient being* thrown 
into either of the last named hypnotic states 
while the operator turned his back upon him, 
although the patient is frequently hypnotized 
with his back to the former. Yet, in mes- 
merism the above is not the case. As soon 
as the brain becomes quiescent (manifested 
by lethargy) the animal electricity flows 
from the active to the passive brain. The 
utility of the passes (which consist in inter- 
posing the hand of the hypnotist between his 
eyes and the brain of the subject) lie in the 



32 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

fact, that suddenly interrupted electrical cur- 
rents produce shocks, and augment their 
force, which may be demonstrated by placing 
one electrode on the forehead, the other at 
the back of the neck; place in the circuit 
three or four cells of a galvanic battery, 
which are barely perceptible to most persons; 
suddenly interrupt the current; switch it on 
again, and a decided shock will be felt. Any 
physician who uses electricity intelligently 
will always remove the electrode before in- 
creasing or diminishing the current. Thus, 
the passes will be seen to materially aid in 
producing* the deeper stages of hypnosis, as 
they intensify the current of animal electric- 
ity by interruption. Roentgen, the discov- 
erer of the X rays, is placed upon record as 
having also found what he was pleased to 
term "mind waves," emanating from the 
brain. The above name, doubtless, awakens 
more interest among a certain class, than it 
would, had he called it by its common name, 
1 ' Animal Electricity. ' ' An instrument of ex- 
treme delicacy has recently been invented for 
measuring these electrical currents by ap- 
proximating with the fingers. Although it 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 33 

is a pleasure to have the presence of so-called 
mind waves or electrical waves verified by 
such an eminent authority, it is not by any 
means new, as it was well known to some 
of the i^ticient mag-netizers, who kept the 
knowledge of it a secret, as well as to many 
of the advanced thinkers of the present day. 
After the first stage of drowsiness is 
reached, if it is desirable to induce a more 
profound state, the hypnotist fixes his gaze 
intently upon the subject, during- which time 
the electric current flows from the active to the 
passive brain, rendering' inactive or hors de 
combat the mind of the subject which, for 
the time becomes dormant and powerless, as 
it were, to manifest itself in the ordinary 
manner; refusing* to act when its apartments 
are entered by an intruder, as we may not 
improperly term the electrical current from 
the opposing* intellect. And if it were not 
for the soul (spirit or dual mind), which ex- 
ists in man, it mig*ht be possible to chang-e 
our individualities, by not only projecting* a 
portion of our thoug*hts into another's brain, 
but forcing* our entire mind into the brain of 
a more desirable bod} T . Then the dreams of 



34 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

Ponce De Leon, and other seekers for the 
spring* of }~outh and elixir vitse would have 
been realized. 

But, a mysterious sentinel keeps a sturdy 
vigil, which we will for convenience term the 
dual mind; this it is that has furnished the 
most interesting*, and perhaps the most start- 
ling* phenomena of hypnotism; when the mind 
no longer acts, the dual takes charge of the 
body; it is the dual which, in hypnosis, an- 
swers correctly questions long since forgot- 
ten by the subject. The dual has the power 
of accurate calculation of time, by which 
psychological discovery of the future may so 
far elucidate our present indefinite knowledge, 
as to even render unnecessary the use of 
clocks and watches. It also has a perfect 
record of past thoughts, deeds, hopes and 
fears of the individual; it is the dual which 
presides over the involuntary organic duties, 
and enforces continued regularity during 
sleep; it is the "wee small voice of child- 
hood," and furnishes the fleeting panorama 
of by-gone days to the drowning man, and 
perhaps gives to the dying that prophetic 
knowledge, which sometimes startles the bed- 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 35 

side watchers. It has appeared to have the 
power of annihilating space, as indicated by 
experiments undertaken to affirm or deny the 
existence of telepathy. At any rate, it is 
there, enthroned in the temple of reason. 
It cannot be explained away by the hypo- 
theses of materialists. We must await the 
light of future knowledge, which we can only 
hope will soon replace this twilight of uncer- 
tainty. This dual possesses also a perfect 
memory without strong reasoning power, the 
latter seeming to belong more especially to 
the active mind. This great indelible regis- 
ter, without the combativeness of reason 
and resentment, is the secret wherein lies the 
value of hypnotic suggestion. It is only in 
the more profound states that we are brought 
face to face, as it were, with this inexplicable 
occupant of the mortal frame. For ordinary 
medical use the primary states are alone suf- 
ficient, as the patient will then receive such 
suggestions as are appropriate for benefits. 
It is in this state alone he refuses to receive 
suggestions conflicting with his conception of 
right, wrong or propriety, yet in the deeper 
stages, when by the will of the hypnotist 



36 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

every muscle can be made perfectly rigid 
when the subject can be caused to imagine 
himself a great man, a fool, or some specie of 
the lower order of animals; when he can be 
made by a word completely oblivious to sound, 
so the report of a heavy gun or loud explosion 
would fail to make itself heard ; when all the 
senses are under the control of another, how 
baseless is the assumption that any previous 
training, or present environment, can protect 
such a subject from the vicious suggestion of 
a depraved or criminal hypnotist. Yet, it is 
"an ill wind that blows nobody good," and 
these very conditions render the therapeutic 
possibilities of such great value as overcom- 
ing the weakness of a drunkard's will, and 
instilling into his distorted mind such cour- 
age and ambition as will make of him once 
more a worthy citizen, and" a. man among men. 
When knowledge is more generall} 7 dis- 
seminated regarding this great force, when 
the fundamental laws governing it are better 
known and understood, we will no longer see 
the flaming posters announcing 4 ' the arrival 
of the child hypnotist, who will have several 
thousand pounds of rock broken on the rigid 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM, 37 

body of a subject, and will cause well-known 
citizens to imagine themselves swine," or 
something* equally ridiculous. We hope the 
time is near when science will no longer need, 
nor the law permit, the many ridiculous, dan- 
gerous and sometimes disgusting experi- 
ments and exhibitions of this sacred power 
given by the Almighty, and practised by the 
Nazarene for making the leper clean and the 
blind to see. We have frequently used the 
term " Animal Electricity," which is syno- 
nomous with the names, magnetism, aura, 
mind waves, etc. As the electricity con- 
tained in the atmosphere enters the blood by 
inhalation, vivifying the same; imparting the 
power of motion, a portion of which, being 
conducted through the nerves to the brain, of 
necessity undergoes a change, just as the gal- 
vanic current induced through a primary coil 
produces faradic electricity, so does the 
former process make of it electricity of a pe- 
culiar kind, a common name for which is 
"Animal Electricity." 

It has long been known, that without the 
aerial vibrations of varying velocity and 
length, it were not possible to appreciate any 
of our senses. 



38 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

We are only enabled to see by undulations 
of ether upon the optic nerve, which causes 
it to vibrate; to hear, by delicate waves of 
sound acting- upon the auditory nerve; to 
smell by vibratory action upon the olefacto- 
ries; to taste, by vibrations extended along 
the gustatory; and to feel, by the telegraphic 
vibrations of the sensory apparatus. We 
cannot longer doubt the connection of vibra- 
tion with the wise and beneficent arrange- 
ments of an all-powerful Creator. 

In the human body can be found the great- 
est laws of physics, utilized with a perfection 
and simplicity which can but awaken the 
wonder and admiration of man. 

Thus, animal electricity and vibration are 
of the greatest importance to man, as without 
the latter the enjoyment of all that is good 
and beautiful in this world would be denied 
us, and if deprived of the former, life itself 
would cease. Hypnotism is the agency which 
brings us into contact with the mysterious 
dual mind, which for aught we know, may be 
the soul. As we are informed in the Sacred 
Book, Man is created in the image of his 
Maker, who is said to consist of that omnipo- 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 39 

tent Trinity — Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 
How truly have we found in man mind, 
spirit and body. It is not difficult to imagine 
the body as father to the mind, as the latter 
is but the effect of electricity acting within 
the law of vibration upon the nervous system, 
that borderland where the material touches 
the immaterial. As to the spirit, recognizing 
it as the spark of Divinity, infinite and im- 
mortal, it is beyond the explanation of finite 
beings, although the materialist attempts to 
explain the above by saying that man has 
two minds, one objective, the other subject- 
ive; the former for use ordinarily, the latter 
for special use, it would seem, in hypnotism. 
Now as to the power of suggestion. Cases 
have been recorded wherein investigators 
have sent magnetized letters to sensitives 
upon receipt of which they would retire, and 
placing the letter upon some part of the head 
or body, would soon after be in a peaceful 
sleep. Afterwards, non-magnetized letters 
were sent to the same person, the effect was 
also sleep, thus again verifying the fact that 
lethargy may be self-induced by anyone of a 
sound mind, although it may be facilitated by 



40 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

such aids as the operator may be inclined to 
use. 

It is known also that some persons cannot 
be forced into any other than the primary or 
lethargic condition by certain hypnotists; 
yet, these same readily yield to the more pro- 
found stages of somnambulism or catalepsy 
in the hands of other operators of equal force. 

This again confronts us with the law of 
attraction, " unlike attracts and like repels." 
In the above instances, the facts are : In the 
first test both the hypnotist and subject are 
of the same polarity. In the latter, of course 
one is positive and the other negative requi- 
sites of a complete circuit. When two per- 
sons of like polarity come in contact the 
effect is repulsion, their individual currents 
connecting separately with the earth, which 
is known to contain both positive and negative 
electricity. On the contrary, when persons 
of opposite polarity meet, a perfect current 
is the result, flowing from positive to nega- 
tive. 

This fact explains many things. Among 
others, the great success in some cases, and 
signal failure in others of magnetic healers. 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 41 

Some public speakers are said to hold their 
audience by the magnetism of their presence, 
meaning* of course that they possess an abund- 
ance of Animal Electricity, together with an 
imposing* appearance, pleasing* address, etc. 

Many persons individually and collectively 
are unknowingly placed in that hig*hly recept- 
ive state of the primary stag*es of hypnotism. 

Audiences and congregations often, by 
silence and the tension of expectancy, inad- 
vertently place themselves as individuals in an 
admirable state to receive suggestion. This 
self-induced lethargic state would be produc- 
tive of sad consequences, if the claims of sug*- 
g*estion were well based, as the majority of 
humanity would have become maniacs de- 
pendent upon the particular ' ' suggestion 
received." If "suggestion " had the power 
claimed, such remarks as were immediately 
sequent upon this self-induced stag*e would 
have to be received as any other oral sug*- 
g*estion of the mesmeric state. 

But, as it is impossible to induce other than 
the very first stag*e of hypnosis without elec- 
tricity, acting* within the law of vibration, 
the speaker is too far removed to cause other 



42 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

than the natural effect of his argument, as it 
is possible that the radius of electricity ema- 
nating- from all points of his body is not pro- 
jected far enough to form a circuit with one 
or more, and even so it might not be with one 
in a favorable state. 

Yet, isolated instances have been reported 
where one or more persons at some meetings 
of especial interest or excitement, presided 
over by some one of highly magnetic presence, 
have so vividly received impressions as to un- 
balance their minds; if the facts were know r n 
it would be shown that they were sufficiently 
near the orator to permit contact of the outer 
waves of their animal electricity. 

It cannot be doubted that a steady observ- 
ance of the speaker, w T hile perfectly quiet and 
expectant to catch the slightest sound of 
voice or note of music, under some conditions 
induce one or other of the primary stages of 
hypnosis. 

Oral suggestion has its part to perform in 
the induction of hypnosis. 

What has been stated in the foregoing lines 
of this chapter will no doubt be vigorously 
assaulted, as it is the only vulnerable spot in 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 43 

our armor of proof. We do not expect to be 
able to convince every one, nor completely ex- 
plain hypnotic phenomena, as generations, 
centuries hence, may so well understand this 
science, interwoven, so completely as it is 
with the law of vibration and electrical phe- 
nomena, upon which are based the discovery 
of the phonograph, telegraph, telephone, etc., 
etc;, as to altogether dispense with what 
may then be considered this present cumber- 
some apparatus of intermediation where- 
by so much force is wasted. They may be 
able to establish instead telepathic stations, 
in various parts of the world, for the trans- 
mission of thought; even then, psychology 
may be in its infancy, as they may have 
merely found the path leading to the great 
highways of universal or interplanetary com- 
munication. 

But, to return to the present. If we, by 
our simple explanation of facts, are enabled to 
direct into the proper channel a few scientific 
investigators of the present day, this book 
will have been a success. 

Mesmeric phenomena may be divided into 
two classes — objective and subjective. The 



44 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

former is that which embraces the well known 
lethargic, somnambulic and cataleptic states. 
The latter is by far the most commonly used, 
yet its use is more obscure and less known 
than the other. When in the objective state 
we are able to note the various stages into 
which a patient may merge. In the latter, 
however, the preparatory hypnotic seance is 
unnecessary, although its effects are just as 
sure. We can scarcely walk upon the street 
without more or less magnetizing some one; 
we never attend public places of amusement, 
business or worship without both imparting 
and receiving this subjective suggestion. 
However, as a discourse upon this latter 
division alone will require many volumes to 
elucidate, we shall here make but slight addi- 
tional reference to it. 

Great musicians, by harmonious notes, or 
strains from voice or instrument, magnetize 
a part of their audience at each concert or re- 
cital; though this form of mesmerism is usu- 
ally of the subjective class, it has on rare 
occasions been known to assume the objective 
form by the induction of a state in which vis- 
ible symptoms were apparent. 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 45 

The author was present at a concert given 
a few years ago by Isayetti, the great violin- 
ist. For some reason the artist was delayed 
and did not appear promptly on time, a cir- 
cumstance which would have been disastrous 
to one less a master, as the audience, seem- 
ingly bent upon a grim revenge, did not greet 
him with the usual demonstration of welcome, 
although from the first stroke of the bow, all 
realized that a true personification of genius 
stood before them yet each individual of 
that vast audience felt that applause to this 
tardy man was not apropos. Accordingly 
his first selection was followed bv an embar- 
rassing silence. Nevertheless, he returned 
to the foot-lights, but with a cold, haughty 
bow, and scarcely perceptible smile, which 
might have expressed either confidence or 
sarcasm. This great Bohemian master, with 
his dark eyes flashing defiance, drew his bow 
across the magic strings, sending forth low, 
sweet, mournful notes, reminding one of the 
subdued grief of a sylvan songster that had 
lost his mate. Then came the moaning of 
bleak, autumn winds, which seemed to sweep 
with fitful gusts through the dead and dying 



46 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

foliag'e of some dark and dismal wood. 
Louder and louder came the strains. He had 
entirely forgotten his audience, and with im- 
ploring* eyes fixed aloft, his long*, slender fin- 
gers executing* movements with grace and 
ease that showed the training of a life-time 
and the genius of a Paganini; those wild, 
weird strains seemed interspersed with a 
chorous of hobgoblins, with occasionally the 
monotonous chant of the Witch of Endor. 
Finally he lowered his head and instrument, 
looked for a moment dreamily at the dumb- 
founded yet hesitating audience, then replac- 
ing his instrument and closing his eyes, 
played furious, yet glorious music. The last 
note, dying away, seemed to recall a despair- 
ing cry of one of Dante's unfortunates. At 
the close of this grand rendition the audience 
were wild with delight. Again and again 
he was recalled. The enthusiasm was un- 
bounded. In referring to the matter, one of 
the daily papers said, "The audience was 
completely Isayettied ! " They were, beyond 
doubt, hypnotized, for they were convinced 
against their will, which is always a result of 
hypnotic suggestion or magnetism. This 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 47 

fact has been taken advantage of by many of 
the larger life insurance companies, and other 
corporations, where their business requires 
the services of a solicitor. No man can be a 
successful salesman or solicitor who does not 
understand the manipulation of animal elec- 
tricity. He may not be aware of the force 
employed and may deny the above statement, 
yet, whether or not he is aware of it, he con- 
forms to the laws which control this force, 
and thus influences his intended patrons. At 
any rate, his success will depend upon the 
utilization of this power, and his business 
will increase in proportion to his knowledge 
of this great force. We are, even now, in the 
age in which a knowledge of the 4t Mechanics 
of Hypnotism or Magnetism" is a necessity. 
Do not any longer believe the recently pro- 
mulgated theories : That hypnosis is not the 
result of the subtle fluid, " Animal Electri- 
city!" That everyone may become a first 
class hypnotist ! That the only requisite is 
the "law of suggestion!" But study this 
science from a deeper conception; give to the 
law of suggestion its true value, but do not 
consider it the only requisite; give to it a 



48 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

value as an accessory agent only. May all 
continue to develop and endeavor to under- 
stand this God-given power, which exists in 
everyone, but in variable degrees. 

To those who doubt the existence of this 
fluid, which under certain conditions flows 
from one brain to another, we will cite an- 
other fact easily proven. When the hypno- 
tist concentrates his force upon the smaller 
animals, its effect is not only apparent, but 
sometimes fatal. Under the effect of animal 
electricity emanating* from the eyes of a human 
being, a frcg will die in less than fifteen 
minutes; cats, doves and rabbits can be de- 
stroyed in this manner. They exhibit well 
marked symptoms of shock, as the evident 
result of receiving into their diminutive 
brains an electrical current so much stronger, 
com paratively, than their own. No theory of 
suggestion can apply to this phenomena. 
The electrical current which flows from one 
brain to another may be denied, but facts 
must be accepted. 

Everyone should become familiar with this 
great force that exists in all known substance. 
By this knowlege sleep may be enforced, 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 49 

nervous excitement allayed, functional disease 
may be benefited, a mother may cultivate the 
morals of her children, the wife can assist 
the husband toward any desired reformation, 
etc., etc. Yet, comparatively few may be- 
come hypnotists of the first order, as few 
persons without cultivation and development 
project a current of sufficient force to induce 
profound hypnosis. 

As an instance, a young" man called at the 
office of my friend, Dr. Van. He said he 
had read several works on hypnotism; how- 
ever, he had not tested his power upon any- 
one but felt confident of his ability to induce 
hypnosis. He was invited to try his first 
experiment upon the doctor, to which he 
readily acquiesced. He took the physician's 
hand, gazed steadily into his eyes for about 
one minute, after having* g*iven him the pre- 
liminary hints. Suddenly the doctor, in a firm 
voice, commanded him to close his eyes ! 
" Do not attempt to open them," said he, and 
the young- man promptly obeyed. Releasing* 
his hand, the doctor pressed his thumb firmly 
on the brow between his eyes, g-azing* the 
meanwhile steadily at his bewildered subject. 



50 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

" Sleep, deep sleep," he repeated sonorously, 
"your eyes are heavy, heavy; you cannot 
open them until I count ten," he added. He 
then proceeded to slowly count the stated 
number, at the end of which the young* man 
opened his eyes, rubbed them for a moment, 
and then beg-an to smile. " You would, with 
some practice, make a fairly g-ood subject," 
the doctor said lig*htly, as he turned away to 
meet a patient who had just entered the 
reception room. 

The Hindoo fakirs, of India, are known to 
perform some marvelous tricks, which have 
appeared to defy the laws of nature. The 
rulers of Great Britian, a country ever ready 
to further scientific research, ordered an 
investigation by some of their officers, to 
ascertain if they really possessed a peculiar 
knowledge of some science known only to 
themselves, or if these tricks were merely 
deceptive. 

What was the result ? It was proven to 
be hypnotism, not of the kind known as the 
J?fe objective, however, characterized by vari- 
ous physical sig*ns, which determine the 
degree, as lethargy, somnambulism, cata- 



HYPNOTISM AND MASMERISM. 51 

lepsy, qr the intermediate stages; but of the 
subjective order of magnetism, by which not 
only an individual, but a multitude may be 
controlled. One case is cited in which the 
delusion was proven to be of a magnetic, or 
hypnotic nature. 

A fakir, one day, approached a party of 
tourists, and offered, for a modest donation of 
silver, to give his entertainment. He carried 
under his arm a bundle of bamboo, and was 
followed by a small boy who had in his hand 
one of the primitive musical instruments pe- 
culiar to the country. Arrangements were 
made for the show to proceed, whereupon the 
boy began to play upon his instrument, and 
the old man placed the two longest bamboos 
in a perpendicular position, then began to 
fasten the smaller pieces into notches fash- 
ioned for their reception. He would insert 
one between them, stand upon it, reach higher, 
and place another, then climb up, always re- 
moving the lower one, until he reached the 
top. He then stood erect, placing one foot 
upon each of the perpendicular bamboo poles; 
he stood thus for a few seconds, then pushed 
aside one of the poles, which fell to the 



52 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

ground; a moment later a cloud of smoke en- 
veloped him, meanwhile, the remaining* bam- 
boo also fell. The smoke clearing- away, the 
Hindoo was seen extended horizontally in 
mid-air without any apparent support. There 
happened to be an amateur photographer in 
the party, who tried to " catch " this remark- 
able scene, but strangle to say, he was unable 
to do so; the instrument showed nothing* but 
the old fakir seated motionless upon the 
ground; a silent witness of his inability to 
hypnotize tli2 instrument. 

Knowledge of this great force, which ren- 
ders possible such delusion, should be sought 
by all who would protect themselves against 
the imposition of the unprincipled hypnotist. 

The time will one day come when good 
men will be found in all communities, bring- 
nig with this great healing power, consola- 
tion, hope, and happiness to the homes of the 
poor, as well as to the rich. Priests and 
Curates will, by sincere and holy desires, 
together with an understanding of Animal 
Electricity, be enabled to develop this power 
to the full extent, thus rendering it possible 
for them to minister to the diseased bodies, 
as well as minds. 



HYPNOTISM AMD MESMERISM. 53 

John 15:12. — "Verily, verily, I say unto 
you, he that believeth on Me the works that I 
do shall he do also, and greater works shall 
he do because I go unto my Father." 

There is a power of control that one person 
may exercise over another, in which the 
effects are altogether subjective. This power 
may emanate from a glance, the voice, or 
contact. A name is wanting*, as it can hardly 
be called hypnotism, mesmerism, or magne- 
tism. It is this which is used by the Hindoo 
fakirs, and by many wise men elsewhere. 
Some possess this unnamed power and use it, 
yet are in some instances in entire ignorance 
of its possession. As this work is devoted to 
the correct explanation of objective hypno- 
tism, its mechanism, and its therapeutic uses, 
we merely make mention of what may at 
some future time receive extended notice, and 
elucidation. 



51 PRACTICAL, ESSAYS ON 



TL 



Us Hypnotism Bangerous- 

HE above query is of especial interest at 
present, as hypnotism has been proven 
of therapeutic value in the treatment of a 
certain class of neurotic disease. In fact, it 
lias been of undoubted value on more than one 
occasion in also treating* obscure affections, a 
diagnosis of which had been of no real value, 
inasmuch as no two physicians of equal ex- 
perience and education had been able to agree 
as to the exact nature of the ailments. 

Confucius, the great Chinese sage, has said, 
" Medicines that create no commotion, are not 
medicines at all." But the tendency of the 
times is to reverse the opinions expressed by 
this great philosopher. 

We do not for a moment doubt, that there 
is, lurking in the numerous poisons which 
constitute the major portion of the modern 
Materia Medica, a gigantic danger, so of what 
use is it to claim that there is no danger in 
hypnotism? It cannot be proven; nay, yet, 
under the present laws, only physicians of the 
most careful training are allowed to pre- 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 55 

scribe. Even so, as medicine is not an exact 
science, accidents and mistakes sometimes 
happen, but thanks to the diligence of investi- 
gation, constantly pursued, every year fur- 
nishes us with clinical records, which reduce 
danger to a minimum; yet, we regret to say 
the science and practice of medicine have not 
reached that perfection which must some day 
result from continued systematic research, 
until it can, however, be placed in the ranks 
as an exact science, no school of medicine can 
afford to reject any means offered for the alle- 
viation of suffering and cure of disease, even 
though it may be known that said agent ha 5, 
in the hands of the ignorant or criminal, been 
used for harm or injury. 

We claim after many years of experience 
and hypnotic experiments, a few of which are 
recorded elsewhere : 

First. That hypnotism and mesmerism 
are of great value in the treatment of both 
neurotic and functional disease. 

Second. It can also be used for moral cul- 
ture. 

Third. That a careful stud^> and compre- 
hension of hypnotism render it a safe and 



56 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

reliable therapeutic agent, of undoubted value 
in the hands of a qualified operator. 

Fourth. It can be productive of harm in 
the hands of an ignorant or criminal hypno- 
tist, especially with a weak subject under 
conditions favorable. 

Fifth. That it is not more dangerous than 
the many drugs at present used. 

By the above, we do not mean that its use 
should be restricted entirely to the medical 
profession, as most practitioners have neither 
the time nor inclination to study this subject, 
so long at least, as it is classed among pseudo- 
science. Should legislation be requested and 
obtained to restrict the use of hypnotism to 
medical men, it would receive a great blow, 
as the scientific exploration of the subject 
would be at once checked, and it would again, 
as it has several times in the past, sink into 
comparative oblivion. Few physicians are 
now considered authority upon hypnotic phe- 
nomena, and the number who use it in their 
practice is quite insignificant. 

Thus knowledge of this science, for such it 
surely is, would retrograde; a misfortune 
which has at times befallen the noble science 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 57 

of medicine itself . As Aiken says: "The 
practice of medicine, as based upon ra- 
tional principles, and a knowledge of the 
nature of disease, has oscillated through vari- 
ous systems and innumerable theories, and the 
science of morbid anatomy has been marked 
throughout by unmistakable periods of pro- 
gress, of stationary existence, or even retro- 
gression, according as one or the other 
exclusive system had the ascendency, or as 
each principle or theory of practice challenged 
for itself a supreme importance, 

Therefore, we must not accept hypnotism 
as a certain panacea for all ills; nor should 
we, at present, relegate it by decreeing that 
any certain body of men should have exclusive 
right to use this great power. 

Some experiments have been conducted at 
certain medical colleges to determine its ther- 
apeutic value, as w r ell as the possible extent 
of its criminal application. The results were 
in substance — that a certain class of diseases 
were amenable to cure by hypnotic suggestion. 
It was an agent through which good or evil 
might be wrought. On account of the latter, 
its use was discountenanced by these high 



58 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

authorities, which relegation, we are led to 
believe, was somewhat hasty and premature; 
as, if it is possible to use it for mental im- 
provement as well as organic correction (a 
fact generally accepted by advanced thinkers 
in all parts of the world), have we any 
right to cast it aside ? Is it not furthermore 
encumbent upon us, injustice to our patients, 
who depend implicitly upon our knowledge 
of the noble science of healing in times 
of sickness, pain and danger, to use every 
known agent, and ignore nothing that will 
alleviate suffering, and enhance the chances of 
prolonging, even for a brief period, a human 
life ? We do not hesitate to use the most 
powerful poisons, although, we are aware 
that an overdose will cause instant death or 
horrible suffering. Murderers sometimes use 
improved fire-arms to commit their henious 
crimes, yet, we do not attempt to restrict 
the manufacture of deadly weapons, as we 
trust to the laws of our land to punish the per- 
petrators; and thus with all classes of male- 
factors, whether murderers, robbers, thieves, 
forgers, or burglars, who by their crimes fall 
under the ban of the law. Why then, can 



HYPNOTISM AMD MESMERISM. 59 

we not render the criminal hypnotist respon- 
sible for any crimes perpetrated through a 
misapplication of hypnotic power ? 

In the meantime, let us continue to test the 
curative powers and possibilities of this 
agent, and trust to the machinery of the law 
in this, as in other criminal matters, to pro* 
tect the public. 

If it is possible, by mental suggestion, to 
influence to higher and nobler thoughts, 
common sense indicates that it might, of 
course, in the hands of a depraved operator, 
be used to debase and lower the subject, not- 
withstanding he would have a difficulty in so 
doing proportionate to the previous amount 
of training to the contrary, as in the lethar- 
gic or primary stage of hypnosis, a subject 
will not receive a suggestion which is directly 
antagonistic to his own ideas of right and 
propriety, yet, in the deeper stages, as som- 
nambulism, however, a powerful and vicious 
hypnotist can, by forcible and repeated sug- 
gestion, penetrate the ordinary protective 
mantel of auto-suggestion, which encircles 
every true lady or gentleman. It is better 
far, that the public should know facts that 



60 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

have been proven in regard to hypnotism; the 
possibilities of the evil as well as the good. 
As is well known, few if any reputable phy- 
sicians or surgeons assume the responsibility 
of administering an anaesthetic, only in the 
presence of a third party. Se we advise 
patients to always insist upon the presence 
of some friend or acquaintance during a hyp- 
notic treatment. If the hypnotist is honor- 
able, he will acquiesce to such an arrangement 
with pleasure; as a matter of fact and justice 
to all, the}^ as a body generally prefer it. 

It will not do to attach too much import- 
ance to sentiments of honor, religious training, 
and previous environments, to render inert 
the suggestions of a vicious hypnotist, how- 
ever, as before stated, they are effective in 
the lethargic state only, and can be overcome 
in the more profound conditions, notwith- 
standing the many experiments recorded and 
published to show that criminal suggestion 
will not be received by an upright and honor- 
able subject. 

In experimental tests, when the subject is 
commanded to plunge a dagger into the heart 
of someone present, or to commit some act 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 61 

equally atrocious, he has been known to re- 
fuse or hesitate and if the suggestion is 
insisted upon, to become dehypnotized. It is 
upon such evidence that are based the state- 
ments — "that criminal influence is entirely 
dependent upon the patient's auto-sugges- 
tions." The truth is, that in the hypnotic 
state, the receptive faculties are so intensified 
that in the vibrations of sound, aug*mented by 
the electrical current flowing* from operator 
to patient, the insincerity of the suggestion 
is readily detected, as the hypnotist is not in 
earnest. 

But when the murderer, or other criminal, 
desires to effect a crime throug-h the agfency 
of his hypnotized subject, he is dreadfully in 
earnest, and so, without doubt, is able to 
influence the subject. 

We here quote a statement by the eminent 
Thomas Jay Hudson, LL. D., in an article 
entitled, " Dang*er Lines in Hypnotism ": 

"When a man has risen in the scale of 
humanity and civilization to the dig*nity of 
Jaferag in possession of that power or faculty, 
feiMb'^pjt^yi^^^ilQ^fflttiatids and obligates 
faimiife^ojthe^gfal and ^b^tawirom wrong*- 



62 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

doing-, he is intrenched within a citadel that 
no power of hypnotic suggestion w T ill prevail 
against." 

We believe this to be true, yet it is with 
regret we observe that few, exceedingly few, 
have reached that point of ideal perfection. 
Our very civilization renders such nearly, if 
not quite, impossible. It may exist in seclu- 
ded monastaries, where spiritual thoughts 
are, or ought to be, predominant; where the 
demands of secular affairs are insignificant, 
and are of rigid simplicity. But in this busy, 
bustling world, where the watchword is, 
4 'The survival of the fittest," few, if any, 
remain intrenched in the citadel. As the 
learned author of the above quotation is an 
attorney of prominence, who has written some 
beautiful ideas concerning hypnotism, he un- 
derstands perfectly the value of such a state- 
ment, which leads one to practically infer 
that ordinary mortals, under the influence of 
a criminal hypnotist, can be moved to crimi- 
nal acts under, of course, favorable conditions, 
dependent upon the sensitiveness of the sub- 
ject and the force of the hypnotist. We must 
then conclude that the great diversity of 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 63 

opinion, based upon actual experiments, are 
caused by: 

First. The insincerity of command in ex- 
perimental tests. 

Second. The existing* hyperesthesia re- 
garding* suggestion, in the more profound 
states, enables the subject to perceive the de- 
gree of sincerity which embodies each com- 
mand or request. 

Third. It is of undoubted therapeutic value. 

Fourth. It can be used for harm as well as 
g*ood. 

Fifth. It is not more dang*erous than many 
of the therapeutic agents in use at present, 
and its benefits are mere apparent. 

Sixth. Its use in the hands of competent 
and sincere operators can result in nothing 
but good. 

Seventh. No one should attempt to induce 
hypnosis, excepting in the presence of at least 
a third party. 

Eighth. The public should become suffic- 
iently familiar with this subject to prevent 
the imposition of quacks and charlatans. 

Ninth. Those who use hypnotism for dis- 



64 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

honorable or criminal purposes should receive 
commensurate punishment. 

We have impressed upon the mind of an en- 
dormed subject, that in a chair beside him 
(upon which sat a spectator) he would, when 
permitted to open his eyes, see his brother. 
We suggested that he converse with him, and 
he did. It can be imagined, by the foregoing, 
that a lady might be made to suppose anothei 
was her husband, and thus render a crime 
possible. 




HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 65 



flDesmertsm Ditterentiateb from SRppnotism 

JwlUCH literature of the day, in referring 
£11%/ to hypnotism, defines it usually as 
the modern term for mesmerism. Such a 
a statement, to say the least, betrays an un- 
familiarity with the subject. 

Hypnotism, as a name, was first made use 
of by Dr. Braid, an English surgeon, in a 
work published by him in 1843, under the 
title of "Hypnotism, or Nervous Sleep." 

Mesmerism is derived from Dr. Mesmer, a 
European physician, who practiced magnet- 
ism about the latter part of the last century, 
and died in 1815. There is a marked differ- 
ence between the hypnotism of Braid and the 
magnetic phenomena of Mesmer; the latter 
created a widespread interest at the time in 
which he flourished. 

The hypnotic subject sees, hears, feels or 
imagines only what may be suggested by the 
hypnotist, as the latter can be perfectly warm 
and comfortable, and by a simple oral sug- 
gestion cause the former to experience great 



66 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

frigidity; or may be at the time suffering 
with pain or disease, which will not neces- 
sarily be appreciated by the subject. 

On the contrary, in the mesmeric state, 
the patient, in certain stages, realizes the 
thought and experiences the sensation of the 
magnetizer. If the hand of the latter be 
pinched, the sensitive somnambule will also 
feel the pain. If unpleasant thoughts burden 
the mesmerist , they will also annoy the patient. 
If the former has a pain, or is suffering from 
any disease, it will be realized by the latter. 
We mention here only a few of the many 
widely dissimilar phenomena which tend to 
distinguish hypnosis from the mesmeric state. 
Therefore, one who is not in perfect health 
should never attempt to magnetize anyone. 
To mesmerize successfully, several conditions 
will be found imperative, viz : A strong 
mind, confidence, integrity and good health. 
These same requisites are, to a certain 
extent, necessary in hypnotism, but the con- 
dition of health is not of such vital impor- 
tance in the latter as in the former. 

The sudden, and sometimes foolish, or even 
dangerous transition from one to another of 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 67 

widely differing- states, for the purpose of 
demonstrating* the power of some alleg-ed 
hypnotist, g*ives to hypnotism a preference 
for public entertainments. 

Mesmerism is not nearly as interesting* to 
the sensation-seeker, being* devoid of much 
visible phenomena, yet to the scientific in- 
vestigator it has many peculiarities which 
demonstrate the wonders of mag*netism, and 
the intricate mechanism of molecular vibra- 
tion; profound psychic phenomena are fre- 
quently manifested in this state, but the 
chang-es are not so suddenly affected, gener- 
ally requiring* various passes and sometimes 
massag*e or manipulation; therefore, it is less 
adapted for public exhibition, unless with an 
extremely sensitive «and well trained somnam- 
bule. 

It was, perhaps, more thoroug*hly under- 
stood in the remote ag*es of the past than at 
present. The priesthood of almost forg*otten 
nations used it in the treatment of diseases. 

The Convulsionares of Saint-Medard 
thoug*ht that God accepted them as victims, 
and desired them to take the diseases of those 
who came to consult them. " It often hap- 



68 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

pened to the 4 Convulsionares,' ' ' says Carre 
De Montg*eron, " to take diseases, without 
knowing* whether the persons were ill, and in 
ig*norance of the nature of their ailments." 

Christ healed by mag*netism, and on account 
of His spiritual life, possessed this power to 
the full extent. By a strange, yet, recognized 
principle, the magnetic power is aug*mented 
according* to the perfection of one's life. 

At various times healers have arisen, claim- 
ing* to cure disease by laying* on the hands. 
Some wonderful cures are accredited to them, 
yet many notable failures attend their efforts. 
Persons of the same polarity as the healer 
are rarely benefited, more than would result 
ordinarily from an equal amount of increased 
confidence and expectation; but, with those 
of opposite polarity, it is possible by touch- 
ing* with both hands to form a complete cir- 
cuit, and it is not unlikely that if the healer 
have mag-netic power, he can, like the Con- 
vulsionares, really take from the patient apart 
or all of his pain and disease. 

Although hypnotism, in the hands of a 
criminal, may be productive of harm, the 
dang*ers of mesmerism lie mainly in the ig*no- 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 69 

ranee of its application. In fact, amateur 
experiments in this line are never wholly un- 
attended by danger; a magnetized patient 
merges into a state of physical quiesence, with 
the exception of the brain, which becomes so 
highly sensitive, that it not only recognizes 
oral suggestion, but sensations, and even 
formulated ideas, unexpressed. One impor- 
tant source of danger is that when the inexpe- 
rienced magnetizer attempts to awaken the 
subject without the assistance of the trans- 
verse passes, and he may not at once respond. 
Grave apprehensions are then aroused 
in the mind of the experimenter, which also 
impress themselves upon the subject pro- 
ducing, in some cases, visible signs of fear or 
perturbation upon the countenance. This 
tends to further alarm the amateur mesmerist. 
The patient is finally revived, however, in a 
condition of fright and nervous exhaustion, 
often followed by mental aberration. Al- 
though danger may accompany the inexperi- 
enced mesmerist in his first efforts, whatever 
ill results, it can be attributed only to his 
ignorance, as vicious or wicked persons, 
although able to induce hypnosis, can never 



70 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

mesmerize anyone sufficiently to be productive 
of either good or evil. 

To become a mesmerist: — One should be 
above the average size, strong and well 
built, in perfect health, kindly disposed and 
possess sufficient gravity to inspire absolute 
confidence, religiously inclined, and have im- 
plicit faith in his power to do good. A 
knowledge of "Animal Electricity," the 
fluid upon which he must so greatly depend, 
will be of great value, although empiric use 
alone of this great power has been produc- 
tive of favorable results. The phenomena of 
mesmerism are yet involved in much doubt 
and obscurity, although many works have 
been written upon the subject. Many experi- 
ments attested by respectable witnesses are 
recorded, yet it is still regarded as a doubtful 
science. Every authority upon mesmeric 
phenomena seems unwilling to accept, as con- 
clusive, any tests except such as he has been 
personally able to verify. Many have denied, 
but none have disproved the existence of the 
"subtle fluid," known by some as "nerve 
force," magnetic or electric fluid, magnetism, 
aura, etc. To their credit may it be said, 



HYPNOTISM AMD MESMERISM. 71 

that the majority of mesmerists believe, and 

know that it does exist, and is the only agency 

by which this state eamrot b^mduceflfT ' 

... . r -€- 

It is the inalienable right of everyone, after 

a careful investigation of any subject, to ex- 
press their opinion, whether or no it conflicts 
with accepted dogmas. 

It is impossible to read many of the recent 
works upon hypnotic phenomena, without 
noticing egoism expressed or implied regard- 
ing mesmerism. Material hypnotists exceed 
their domain when they attempt to deride or 
deny what they do not understand beyond 
the limits of theory. To all such, mesmerism 
is and will be as a fleeting phantom, which 
may be witnessed, but not grasped. It will 
always be discredited by those who believe 
only the little they are able to demonstrate, 
as everyone cannot become a hypnotist and 
every hypnotist cannot become a mesmerist. 

A mesmerist may be able to demonstrate 
an interesting phenomena with one subject, 
and fail with another. One must be always 
prepared for the many different and sometimes 
startling manifestations, according to the 
nervous organization of the somnambule. 



72 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

Experience alone will teach how to regulate 
them ; some will be found who are admirably 
adapted to physical experiments but are 
utterly useless for psychical. 

We will now give an easy and simple 
method of magnetizing-. It is one of many 
ways, and a person may select, after practi- 
cal experience, others that may be found more 
convenient. 




HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 73 



How to /H>e9tneri3e. 

^f HE mesmerist should take a seat directly 
VU in front of the patient; after rubbing* 
his own hands together briskly for about 
thirty seconds, he should take the hands of 
subject and gently manipulate them for about 
one minute, meanwhile explaining* the results 
expected from the treatment; after which 
place the thumbs into his palms in such a 
manner as to press down over the median 
nerve, and after having* requested his full at- 
tention, look him steadily in the eyes, caution 
him that he must make no effort to keep his 
eyes open; after from five to fifteen minutes 
they will begfin to grow heavy. The first 
attempt will be the most difficult, and the 
time required to g*et the subject en rapport 
may be twenty or thirty minutes. It some- 
times requires several days, and in exceptional 
cases as many weeks. The beg*inner is ad- 
vised to limit the time of his first attempt to 
about thirty minutes. When about to yield 
to the mag-netic influence, the eyelids will be- 



74 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

g*in to quiver rapidly in some cases; at any 
rate, after gazing into the subject's eyes for 
about five or ten minutes, the mag*netizer 
should stand directly in front of the patient, 
keeping- his eyes riveted upon those of sub- 
ject, thinking- the meanwhile of sleep. He 
should extend, loosety, his fing*ers, raise 
them at the sides of the latter, with the 
palmer surface downward until they meet just 
above his head; then bring* them slowly down- 
ward with the fing*er tips about two inches 
distant from the face until in line with the 
clavicle; then flapping* them lig*hth T at the 
the sides, as if to cast off a few drops of wa- 
ter; repeat about half a dozen times. He 
should not raise them, at any time, in front 
of the patient, but with the palmer surface 
always down; raise them at the sides, per- 
mitting* them to meet at the top of the head; 
then, with the same precautions, he must 
extend the passes downward to the epig*as- 
trum, about a dozen times in this instance, 
after which he may step a little backward 
and extend the remainder of the passes down- 
ward, as far as the extremities; then a few 
passes should be made downward along* the 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 75 

arms and sides of the body. It may aid the 
beginner to place his knees in contact with 
those of the subject at the beginning* of the 
test. Some g*o readily into a profound sleep, 
which may or may not be desired. Such a 
state will gradually vanish by degrees with- 
out further attention of the mag-netizer. 
Others merg*e, instead, into what may be 
called lucid sleep, or the true somnambulic 
state. These two widely differing- states 
may be to a certain extent regelated by the 
operator. The depth of the sleep may be 
increased according* to the number of perpen- 
dicular passes; if it is desired to lessen the 
profundity, transverse passes will be found 
useful. Sensitive subjects, will occasionally 
be found, who can be endormed by simply 
taking* the hand with the intention of so do- 
ing*. Others will require, as before stated, 
from two to twenty minutes. When about 
to succumb to mesmeric influence, an inde- 
finable look will overspread the countenance 
of some; in others, the eyelids quiver rapidly, 
until the eyeball turns upward and it is hid- 
den from view by the lid. The subject, at 
this time, appears uneasy, the chest expands 



76 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

with difficulty, a shiver and a sigh, and they 
fall backward into one of the two mentioned 
states. Some subjects actually feel the cur- 
rents of animal electricity, as it escapes from 
the finger tips of the mesmerist during* the 
passes, and many sensitives are able to see it 
in a dark room. It has even been photograph- 
ed. That it can be seen and felt by magnet- 
ized subjects, is not due to their imagination, 
by any means; it is accounted for by the fact 
that in the mesmeric state, any of the senses 
can be perceptibly augmented. The sense of 
hearing ma}^ be increased, so that a whisper 
inaudible to others may be heard at a distance 
of a dozen or more feet by the subject; so the 
sense of sight being increased, he is enabled 
to see this magnetic fluid, which must of 
necessity have a greater rarity than the at- 
mosphere. To awaken the subject, trans- 
verse passes should be used; the limbs should 
be first awakened. In mesmerism that phe- 
nomenon to which w T e have so frequently re- 
ferred, magnetic or electrical attraction, will 
become frequently manifest. You may 
observe by bringing your hand near the arm of 
your endormed subject, that his arm will in- 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 77 

variably move out toward it, obeying*, seem- 
ingly, a mysterious attraction. A magnet 
will produce the same effect, yet the action 
of the magnet is entirely different, producing 
simply a reflex action; whereas, animal at- 
traction acts by a more complex, subtle 
mechanism. A marked difference will be ob- 
served in the susceptibility of various sub- 
jects, in most all, however, the faculty of re- 
sponse and sympathy may be cultivated, as 
Donato well expressed, by* 4 Magnetic Educa- 
tion. '' He attracted much attention in Paris 
(1881) with a somnambule, a young lady 
whom he was able to control, without speak- 
ing a word, solely by the use of gestures, 
which were made at a distance of one or two 
paces from her; he was in this manner enabled 
to convey thoughts and commands. 

A sensitive will gradually become suscep- 
tible to different attractions, and if, in addi- 
tion, he possess a quick comprehension of the 
mechanical movements, you can, in the som- 
nambulistic state, produce wonderful and 
surprising effects. At first, your influence 
will be limited to close proximity only, yet, 



78 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

after repeated trials with a sensitive, distance 
will be no barrier. 

Some of the first effects to attract the at- 
tention of the magnetizer are, the muscular 
contraction of an endormed subject under his 
cencentrated gaze; the transfer ance of 
thought by physical contact, by placing* your 
finger with a slight downward pressure upon 
the back of the neck of an endormed subject, 
near the horn of the spinal column, thinking, 
the meanwhile, intently of some object, which 
may be some particular color, a number, or a 
card; a sensitive will receive an impression of 
your thoughts. This is one method of 
thought transferance; there are many others. 
In cases where mental action has affected 
subjects at a distance, their organizations 
have, of necessity, been of such an extremely 
sensitive nature, that they were invariably 
sufferers from some form of hysteria. The 
touch of the mesmerist will usually be found 
agreeable to the subject, while that of others 
is generally painful. The magnetized sub- 
ject will, not unfrequently, be able to re- 
cognize different persons, by touch alone. 

There is yet another form of magnetism, 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 70 

termed, Artificial Mesmerism. Subjects, 
when endormed by this method, have the 
power of diagnosing diseases and locating 
pain. Clocquet wrote a letter describing the 
experiments of Marquis de Puysegur, viz: 
afterward recorded by Ochorowicz. " M. de 
Puysegur chose from among his patients 
several subjects, whom, by touching them 
with his hands and holding toward them his 
wand (an iron rod about fifteen inches in 
length), he caused them to fall into a regular 
crisis. The complement of this state is an 
apparent sleep, during which the physical 
faculties seem suspended, but to the profit of 
the intellectual faculties; the eyes are shut, 
the sense of hearing is dull and awakes only 
at the master's call. " (This is the phenom- 
enon of isolation peculiar to the magnetic 
sleep, as distinguished from the hypnotic 
state produced by an inanimate object.) 
One must be careful not to touch the patient 
in the crisis, nor even the chair he sits in." 
I have often, since 1867, observed and verified 
this fact.) "Were one to do so, it would 
cause great suffering, convulsions that only 
the master can allay," The patients, who in 



80 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

the crisis are called medecins (doctors) have 
a supernatural power whereby, on touching 
a sick person presented to them, or on laying 
the hand upon him, even outside the clothes, 
they know what internal organ is affected, 
the part of the body that is ailing. They 
name it, and give pretty correct advice as to 
the proper remedies. I had my^self touched 
by one of the medecins, a woman of about 
fifty years; I certainly had not told anybody 
the nature of my complaint. After giving 
some time to my head in particular, she said 
that I often had pain therein, and that I 
habitually had a loud buzzing in the ears, 
which is quite true. A young man, who 
witnessed this experiment with incredulity, 
submitted to it himself afterward, and was 
told that he had trouble with his stomach; 
that he had engorgements in the lower ab- 
domen, this since the occurence of a spell of 
sickness a few years before. This, he con- 
fessed, was in accordance with the facts. 
Not contented with this divination, he forth- 
with went and had himself touched by anoth- 
er ''doctor" twenty paces away from the 
first, and got the same answer. I never saw 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 81 

a man so dumbfounded as this one, who 
surely had come to contradict, to jeer, and 
not to be convinced. 

Robert Ingersoll was once asked, what 
changes he would make, had he the power of 
creation. He replied: " I would make good 
health contagious instead of disease. " Pos- 
sibly this force, of which magnetism is but 
one manifestation, surrounding us on all sides 
and within the reach of all, is, if not really 
contagious, at least a remedy for all classes 
of disease, providing we but comprehended 
the laws that govern its utility. 




82 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 



Mow to Untmce IRppnosis. 

HS the practical result of experiment and 
proven facts, together with the many 
hypotheses which have also received due 
consideration, the author has found it impos- 
sible, as the previous chapters of this work 
plainly indicate, to relegate positive proofs 
for numerous theoretical statements, which 
tend more to confound than elucidate the prin- 
ciple upon which is based the science of mag- 
netism. We recognize, as the fundamental 
basis, electro-biology. We shall not attempt 
to consider or predict the possibilities of this 
science, nor the many astounding psycho- 
logical mysteries connected therein. In this, 
as in all other natural phenomena, the laws 
which govern them are simple, yet immutable, 
and electricity is the most active agent in the 
induction of this state. The schools of 
Europe, wherein is instituted psychological 
research, have long since recognized it under 
the name of " magnetic fluid/' We take no 
exception to the name, and may frequently re- 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 83 

f er to it as such, but our conception of it, how- 
ever, is not as a mysterious or magnetic fluid 
only, but as Animal Electricity, the repulsion 
and attraction being* due to the polarity. It 
is, at present, a very difficult subject to dis- 
course upon, one important cause of confusion 
being- the misapplication of existing names. 
Mr. Braid, the first to use the term hypnotic, 
evidently meant to imply the nervous sleep 
induced by action, which first decreased the 
amount of blood in the brain, thereby dimin- 
ishing the amount of electricity; this con- 
dition places the subject in the proper state 
to receive the current of Animal Electricity 
from the hypnotist, as electricity seeks its 
conductor, and if left to itself will find 
it, flowing from the stronger to the weaker. 
Decreasing the amount of blood in the brain 
may be alone sufficient to endorm the patient, 
as that is but a requisite of all natural sleep. 
If it is desired to induce the stage of somnam- 
bulism, however, and the patient is compelled 
to sleep, he will do so, but it will be the re- 
verse of natural sleep, and bring in its wake 
fatigue instead of rest. The brain, in the 
deeper state (unless proper precautions are 



84 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

taken) contains an excess of blood, similar 
to the enforced sleep of chloral hydrate, etc. 

If the term hypnosis is to imply what we 
would infer, from its Greek derivation, it is 
certainly much abused, and for the various 
phenomena of this class new names are neces- 
sary. 

We shall now give several methods by 
which hypnosis may be induced. We will 
state, however, that the beginner must always 
guard against deception in the subject, 
whether voluntary or involuntary. Another 
obstacle will be found in the general, and al- 
most universal acceptance of the statement, 
that none but weak-minded can be endormed, 
an erroneous idea, by the way, as in the in- 
sere or lunatic, hypnosis is rarely induced. 
Persons will often offer themselves as subjects 
to verify a petty conceit, that their mind is 
stronger than the magnetizer, or at least, too 
strong to be affected. Such subjects are 
easy to control, if taken by surprise; rush to 
them suddenly, seize them by the shoulders, 
push them backward and pull them forward, 
keeping your eyes riveted upon their own; 
let all of your movements be sudden and un- 



HYPNOTISM AMD MESMERISM. 85 

expected; give to your words the tone of 
authority, and you will seldom fail. A gal- 
vanic current will also be found a valuable 
adjunct. Place in the circuit from twelve to 
fifteen cells; place in the left hand of the sub- 
ject the negative electrode; hold in your left, 
the positive; grasp his right hand and press 
your thumb upon the palmar surface over the 
median nerve; look him straight in the eyes 
for about a minute, then tell him his eyes are 
growing heavy, heavy; his pupils are dilated; 
he needs rest. Then say, "Close your eyes; 
sleep, sleep, deep sleep"; place your thumb 
midway between the eyebrows, resting your 
fingers upon the top of his forehead; press 
downward gently, keeping your eyes fastened 
upon his closed lids. Then remove your hand, 
make a few downward passes, and the sub- 
ject is then, usually, in the first stage of 
hypnosis. 

Number 2. The first requisite is willing- 
ness of the subject; then seat him, his back 
toward the company, if spectators are pres- 
ent; request him to clasp his hands in such a 
manner that the thumbs lie one above the 
other, with a gentle pressure; instruct him 



86 PRx\CTICAL ESSAYS ON 

to observe steadily the knuckle of the forefin- 
ger, until he notices a change in its color, 
which will arise from congestion of the capil- 
laries produced by concentration of his 
thoughts. Leave him then entirely to him- 
self for about five minutes, although a longer 
or shorter time will sometimes be required; 
then approach the side of his chair, and having 
firmly decided within yourself that you are 
going to succeed, fix your eyes steadily upon 
him, directing your gaze to an imaginary line 
between the eye and ear; make a few passes 
downward, allowing the hand to interpose 
between your line of vision and the subject's 
head; repeat in a low, firm, convincing tone, 
4 ' Your eyes are growing heavy, heavy ! You 
cannot hold them open; close them ! Think 
of nothing but sleep, sleep, deep, deep sleep ! '' 
As soon as the eyes are closed step directly in 
front of him, press the lids carefully down, 
then place your thumb between the eyebrows, 
letting your fingers rest upon the top of the 
forehead, press gently downward, in the 
meanwhile gazing intently upon the closed 
lids, repeating your commands; "Sleep, sleep, 
deep, deep sleep, breathe regularly! " Remove 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 87 

your hand from his forehead, and with the 
fingers lightly extended make a few more 
passes, at the end of which the subject is 
usually in the lethargic or drowsy stage, al- 
though you will encounter many sensitives, 
who pass rapidly from the first to the deeper 
stages. Tell him, that until you have counted 
five, he cannot open his eyes; that when you 
have reached said number, he must open his 
eyes, but be still asleep; when you again 
count five, he must close his eyes and sleep 
deep. One simple test to determine whether 
he is endormed, is to say : " You must keep 
your eyes closed, sleep sound and deep ! You 
must hear no one but me ! You cannot open 
your eyes until I place my hand upon your 
head ! " Then, stepping back, in a low voice 
ask someone present to request him to open 
his eyes. If he does not, he may be consid- 
ered ready for further experiment. When 
you desire to dehypnotize him, inform him 
that when you count three you will place your 
hand upon his head; he must then wake up, 
be bright and cheerful. You may also blow 
your breath upon his face, saying: " Wake 
up, open your eyes ! " Or you may simply 



88 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

slap your hands together telling him to wake, 
etc. If any muscle of the subject be rigid or 
contracted, always lightly massage them be- 
fore restoring him. 

Number 3. Any bright object can be used 
to induce hypnosis. A conductor of electricity 
will, however, act with more certainty and 
dispatch. Avery neat and useful object, such 
as has been used by the author for years, 
is made as follows : Have imbedded in a 
small piece of zinc, about the size of a quarter 
of a dollar, a silver ten cent piece; have it 
riveted in place with a small piece of fine cop- 
per wire; have the surface made perfectly 
smooth and polished brightly; as will be seen, 
we then have a combination of zinc, silver and 
copper, This can be used as an objective 
point, instead of the closed hands in experi- 
ment number two, by having the subject hold 
it from eighteen to twenty inches from the 
eyes, upon which he must direct his fixed 
gaze, with the other directions before stated. 

Number 4. Take the subject by the left 
hand, pressing the thumb of your right hand 
into the center of his palm, covering the line 
of the median nerve, allowing the tips of your 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 89 

middle and ring* finger to press upon the meta- 
carpus, behind the articulation of the middle 
and ring- finger of the subject, and, having 
firmly decided to iufluence him, gaze steadily 
into the depths of his eyes for a length of time, 
varying from one to three minutes. Then 
pursue the same directions previously stated. 
Number 5. You may request the subject to 
stand erect in the center of the room ; take him 
by the hand, as stated in number four; look 
him straight in the eyes; tell him to close his 
eyes and think only of one word. It may be 
sinking, falling or something similar. Im- 
press upon his mind that in a short time he 
will surely fall; assure him that you will 
stand ready to catch him and that he must not 
resist the sensation; step behind him; hold 
one finger near the back of his head; look 
steadily at it, also, meanwhile thinking : You 
must fall ! You must fall ! After a variable 
length of time, generally about one or two 
minutes, he will fall. Remember that in this 
experiment, the subject must keep his eyes 
closed, stand erect, with arm placed at the 
sides, and keep his mind upon the given word. 
When he falls into your arms, place him again 



90 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

in an erect position, placing* yourself in front 
of him; make a few passes downward in front 
of his face and pursue directions given in 
number two . 

There are hundreds of ways by which hyp- 
nosis may be induced. There are many tests 
to determine whether or not the subject is 
ready for experimental work; it is more diffi- 
cult to detect and differentiate real sleep from 
its semblance. 

Catalepsy can be produced with the eyes of 
the somnambule either open or closed; it may 
be induced by any unexpected ocurrence, as a 
flash of light previously provided. This sud- 
den flash of a bright light gives him a nervous 
shock, which induces the state known as cat- 
alepsy. In this instance the eyes remain open; 
press his arms firmly against the sides of his 
body; move your fingers from his shoulders 
down to the finger tips (there is an intelligence 
in the movement of the fingers that cannot be 
explained; each one must discover it for him- 
self); then begin again at the shoulders and 
descend, touching upon the ulnar nerve; tell 
him, in the meantime, that his muscles are 
growing rigid, hard as steel; he cannot move 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 91 

them, etc. A word of caution may not be 
here amiss. Although the above effect may 
be produced by a word, and the author, with 
many others, has induced rigidity in an 
endormed subject by thought alone, it is by 
far much safer and better for the patient if 
gradually induced, accompanied by the man- 
ual movements. Neither is it wise, for 
startling effect, to attempt a relaxation of 
the muscles by oral suggestion alone, but 
gently manipulate them with light massage, 
telling him that they are gradually becoming 
soft, etc., until they are again normal. In 
this state the whole body may be made to 
become perfectly rigid, by observing the 
above directions in regard to other muscles; 
it is this condition which renders possible 
the tests of rock-breaking so frequently seen 
upon the stage. You can also raise one or 
both arms to any position,, assuring the sub- 
ject, while lightly tracing the nerve track, 
of their firmness, and they will remain in 
whatever position placed. 

If catalepsy is induced while the eyes are 
closed, on opening the eyes the muscles re- 
lax. If the eyes are open when the somnam- 



92 . PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

bule merges into this state, by closing them 
it disappears. To prove whether or not cat- 
alepsy exists, a common method is to raise 
the arm; if it falls, the negative is confirmed. 

Although, as previously stated, catalepsy 
has been induced in sensitives by mental sug- 
gestion alone, during experiments, it is 
neither wise nor safe to change the subject 
from one to another of widely differing states. 
These absurd, yet striking, changes of a sub- 
ject from an actor of renown to some form of 
lower animal, or vice versa, create mental 
and physical wrecks of those wretches who, 
for scant remuneration, offer themselves as 
sacrifices to some mercenary and heartless 
hypnotist, that he may astound an uninformed 
public. 

" Animal Electricity" is necessary to life; 
therefore, it exists in every human being. 
Through the medium of this universal force, 
every law of nature bears a fixed relation to 
the mind of man; it is the flow of this electric 
fluid from the sensitive group to the percep- 
tive, from thence to observation, etc, mov- 
ing from right to left, that causes the infant 
to put forth his right hand instead of the left. 






HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 93 

Were it not for this fact, we would have 
as many individuals use the left as the right 
hand. We observe a vast difference in the 
physical strength of men, yet the most deli- 
cate body, if unfettered by disease, is capable 
of muscular development. The muscles of 
the young, who neither labor nor exercise, 
become soft and attenuated, while those of 
persons who labor and observe the laws of 
health by proper exercise, become firm and 
strong'; yet, with exercise and consequent 
development, all men cannot become equally 
powerful; a difference will exist, commensur- 
ate with the original disparity of their 
bodies. So with the brain, the storage bat- 
tery of the body; all may by mental cultiva- 
tion increase its size and pGwer. Even so, 
an inequality will yet exist, all will be re- 
warded for their efforts; nevertheless, every- 
one cannot become a mental giant. 

This explains briefly the difference in 
magnetic power of different individuals. If 
a trained athlete meets in contest one of 
equal strength, yet lacking in science, none 
can doubt the issue; the certainty of victory 
would be still increased if he attacked his 



94 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

opponent unawares. As a means of demon- 
stration, we may make another comparison : 
If a powerful pugilist should strike with full 
force a delicate young* man, the result might 
be fatal. 

Some are born with powerful brains, 
others may acquire them by mental exercise. 
The effect of mental development on the 
human brain is noticeable after death, and 
determined by the depths of the convolutions; 
in some they are deep, in others shallow. 
There is also a difference in the texture of 
the brain; fine structure indicates power, 
which decreases in proportion to existing 
coarseness. Some, without development, 
possess hypnotic power; others may attain it 
by cultivation. 

As we have before mentioned the fatal 
effect of mag-netism upon a frog-, so we must 
admit that a concentrated projection of fluid 
from a powerful hypnotist to a weak and un- 
developed brain, must be used with discretion 
and intelligence. Some persons can never 
project a current of sufficient force to 
hypnotize. 

Many deceive themselves by simply indue- 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 95 

ing lethargy, which is, in many instances, 
but the result of the monoideac state induced 
by the subject, per se. There is just as 
much difference existing- in the power of per- 
sons to magnetize as there is in the different 
degrees of sensitiveness in those offered as 
subjects. 

It is impossible to pursue psychic invest- 
gation to any great depth without observing 
the effect of animal electricity. You may 
term it any name you prefer, yet the fluid 
exists. If you find one who honestly denies 
its existence, you may rest assured that he 
knows but little of psychic phenomena. The 
very existence of the "unconscious," or what 
we may call the dual mind, with which all 
magnetizers and hypnotists are certainly 
confronted in profound hypnosis, should be 
sufficient proof of the fact that this particu- 
lar line cf research is far from ordinary. 

Furthermore, no hypnotist can divine what 
strange, unforseen, and perhaps hitherto un- 
known, idiosyncrasy will become manifest 
before the "seance" is ended with any 
strange somnambule. 

Everyone, whether physician or layman, 



% PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

should carefully note and record his practical 
experience with this subject. As the rela- 
tion of magnetism to the human mind is now 
but in that embryonic state dubbed pseudo- 
science, those who have so hastily tabooed 
it, may in the near future observe their 
error and tender to it the welcome humanity 
should always give nature's curative agents, 
and to magnetism especially, as it is but 
another phase of that grand force which 
prevades the immensity of cur universe. 



§>®4§ 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 97 



Therapeutic application of Hypnotism. 

fN the spring* of 1891 I reached San Fran- 
cisco from Valparaiso. I was surprised 
to find so prevalent among* all classes the use 
of opium or opiates. It is true but a small 
percentage of the population were addicted to 
this habit, yet the victims were, as before 
stated, not confined to the lower strata, by 
any means, but permeated the very vitals of 
swelldom. Among' my acquaintances was 

Mrs. W , a lady of twenty-seven years, 

wealthy, refined and highly intellig*ent, rather 
anemic, with an apparent lang*our, which 
might have been mistaken for indifference. 
It was upon our second or third meeting*, at 
the house of a mutual friend, that the tell-tale 
contraction of the pupils were apparent. At 
that time I was in total ig*norance of what is 
generally termed '" ' hitting the pipe, ' ' and sup- 
posed naturally that she had taken morphia. 
One afternoon I was called professionally to 
attend her; reaching* the house was shown at 
once to her room by the Chinese servant; she 



98 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

was walking* the floor in nervous agitation; 
her eyes were dilated, and upon her face was 
a slig-ht hectic flush. " Oh, Doctor," she ex- 
claimed, "I hardly know how to tell you. 
Do you know why I have sent for you? ' ' she 
asked excitedly. " I understood that my ser- 
vices were required," I replied. "So they 
are, but how can I tell you?" and she burst 
into tears. Her pulse was at this time 107. 
4 'Be seated," I said, "I wish to talk with 
you a moment. Calm yourself, and tell me 
what has happened." She covered her eyes 
with her handkerchief, and remained silent a 
few moments, save a few suppressed sobs, 
when she resumed, "Doctor, I sent for you, 
because you are a stranger in the city. I 
could never have sent for my old family phy- 
sician; he knew my husband, attended him in 
his last illness, and has watched over my little 
daug-hter and myself as if he were a father. 
I could not, and would never have told him 
that I am — I am an opium fiend." I pro- 
ceeded to ask a few necessary questions, and 
elicited the following- story, given in her own 
words : 

"Two years agx> my husband died; I was 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 99 

prostrated by grief, which was followed by 
convulsive seizures of hysteria. In several of 
these attacks morphia was hypodermically 

injected by Dr. G . He afterward refused 

to continue the drug*. It was during* this con- 
dition that a lady friend called. I told her 
how shattered were my nerves, of the insom- 
nia from which I suffered, as well as the con- 
stant misery I daily endured. ' Did you ever 
"hit the pipe?"' she asked. I did not at 
once comprehend her. ' Did you ever smoke — 
smoke opium ? ' she said. ' I was in just your 
condition once,' she continued, 'and that was 
the only thing that did me any g*ood; since that 
time I have never been without a layout in 
the house.' Well it was soon arranged that 
I should accompany her home that evening*. 
That was my first experience with the drug*, 
and bitterly have I since regretted it. Her 
Chinese servant prepared it for us, and we 
smoked for several hours." 

" What were your sensations ?" I asked. 

" It quieted me, to be sure, but it made me 
sick, Oh, so sick ! " said she with a shudder, 
4 'that I never intended to g*o near it ag*ain. 
But the next day found me, nevertheless, at 



100 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

the house of my lady friend. This time it 
did not make me sick, but I have never ex- 
perienced those dreams of Oriental splendor 
about which I had often heard; it merely 
seemed to deaden and paralyze my nerves, as 
it were. I became then a daily caller at the 
house of Mrs. M — — . I soon found that a 
visit of once daily did not suffice, and as I had 
by this time become sufficiently acquainted 
with the drug- to understand the art of pre- 
paring or (cooking*) it, as it is termed, I de- 
cided to introduce this modern curse into my 
own house. A Chinaman was employed, and 
through him the requisite layout, consisting of 
pipe, lamp and appurtenances, were secured. 
From twice daily it soon reached to three; 
from thence to four times every day was the 
inhalation of this drug necessary. I have 
tried to conceal my unfortunate habit from 
my friends; how well I succeeded, God only 
knows, as the object of scandal is always the 
last to hear it. I have decided to break the 
chain that has bound me, but help is required, 
and I have therefore sent for you," saying 
which, she relapsed into silence, and buried 
her face in her handkerchief. 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 101 

" Do you know the amount of the drug that 
you consumed at each time?" I ventured. 

" Oh yes, I have often weighed it. It was 
just the amount which would balance a 
twenty-five cent piece (silver) on the scale. 
You see a small Chinese scale is used in 
weighing* it. Their standard of measurement 
is a fune, I do not know its equivalent in our 
system of weights." 

' 'How long since you last indulged?" 

"I have not touched it since night before 
last, and I have firmly resolved never again 
to take that infernal draught of oblivion, 
although I have suffered the tortures of the 
dammed; my nerves have been shattered, 
involuntary tears flow from my weak and in- 
flamed eyes, spasmodic pains shoot through 
my intestines, while a dull ineffable pain is 
ever present in my weakened brain. Every 
organ, every tissue of my system seems clam- 
oring for the accursed drug, while to oppose 
them nothing is left but will power." 

" God bless you," I said, " you cannot but 
succeed. What you need is rest. Give me 
your attention for a few moments, and we 
shall endeavor to induce sleep." 



102 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

"Oh, if you only could! " she replied. "You 
know the peculiarity of opium is, that it is the 
only known drug that soothes, and at the 
same time stimulates. I have eaten nothing 
since depriving myself of it." 

Some further queries developed the fact 
that constipation always accompanies this 
form of dissipation; the senses are blunted, the 
result of which is a languid indifference; the 
pancreatic juice becomes weakened, and the 
digestive apparatus is thus impaired, affect- 
ing, in its turn, the appetite. At first the sys- 
tem makes an attempt to throw this off, as 
all other poisons, but soon tires of the effort; 
like intoxicants and tobacco, morphia, chloral, 
belladona or other forms of stimulants, nar- 
cotics or opiates, it soon becomes a necessity. 
Whatever may have been the cause of the 
first indulgence, whether for curiosity, pleas- 
ure, or the relief of pain, the effect is invari- 
ably the same; a new desire is formed, and an 
unnatural appetite is created, to appease 
which, the unhappy victim will defy the law, 
and jeopardize even life itself. To be sure, 
among the rich such desperation is not so 
often met, yet the physical suffering is just 
the same. 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 103 

To begin with, I talked and reasoned with 
this lady, and brought to my assistance her 
pride, by remarking* how strange it was, that 
a lady of her intelligence could have ever be- 
come a victim of such a debasing habit, and 
that she justly deserved credit for the firm 
stand she had taken, and that, notwithstand- 
ing the insomnia which would most likely 
follow such a condition, we would endeavor 
to reduce pain to a minimum. So, I accord- 
ingly magnetized her, and after having im- 
pressed the above, in substance, upon her mind 
during the hypnosis, reduced her pulse to 
normal, and bade her sleep sound for four 
hours. Before leaving, I gave a few minor 
hints to her maid, and left orders that on no 
account must the lady be awakened or dis- 
turbed until 7 p.m., when I would again call. 
A few minutes before seven, I found her still 
in a deep sleep, from which she was soon 
awakened; her skin was dry and hot, and she 
exhibited great thirst; her temperature rose 
to 103.5 degrees at 8 p. m. with pulse 112. A 
sponge bath was given, followed by an alco- 
hol rub; a mild laxative was also given; dur- 
ing this time, the patient seemed extremely 



10+ PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

weak and exhausted; when the nurse, with 
the assistance of her maid, had manipulated 
her sufficiently, she was again placed in bed. 
A small cup of black coffee, and a slice of 
French toast was then ordered; the coffee 
was consumed with apparent relish, but the 
patient was unable to eat the toast. She 
was again endormed, with sleep, as the only 
suggestion. After giving strict orders that 
upon no condition was she to be awakened or 
permitted to leave her apartments, I retired, 
a room having been provided for me in the 
house. At eight o'clock the next morning I 
awakened her; her temperature was 99, pulse 
80. She then drank a small glass of port 
wine, complained of a slight pain in the head, 
and extreme lassitude, together with great 
sensitiveness in the region of the epigastrum. 
For breakfast she ate one soft boiled egg, 
two slices of buttered toast with a large cup 
of coffee; she called for the morning paper, 
and while she was reading it, I left her, 
promising to return in one hour. 

It must be remembered that during all this 
time she had been continually under the es- 
pionage of some one, either her maid or my- 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 105 

self. I did not doubt her intentions of break- 
ing* away from this horrible drug*, but I was 
aware that victims of any pernicious habit 
are sometimes afflicted with an irresistable 
desire to indulge, and so took these precau- 
tions, which proved wise in this case, at least. 

On my return an hour later, I met her maid 
at the door, who informed me that the patient 
had desired to leave the room; she had used 
both threats and persuasion, but to no avail, 
as the maid was a very sensible girl, and un- 
derstood the nature of her lady's affliction. 

I opened the door, and found her pale with 
anger, dressed in her morning* wrapper, and 
pacing* the floor with suppressed agitation. 
I greeted her cordially, but received no im- 
mediate reply. She turned suddenly upon 
me saying, " Oh, Doctor ! I can stand this no 
longer. I must go once more, or I'll die !" 

I motioned her to a seat, at the same time 
moving my chair opposite to her; we talked 
quietly a few moments, after which, she was 
again magnetized; she lapsed into the lethar- 
gic state only; she was given appropriate 
oral suggestion l 4t To forget the drug; that 
its continued use meant death to her." She 



106 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

was allowed to rest quietly for about one-half 
hour, when she merged into a deep sleep, 
which was to continue until 3 p. m. I re- 
turned about two o'clock, and waited for her 
spontaneous awakening*, which occurred 
about three. Her pulse was at this time 
normal. 

No further treatment necessary. 

She g-ained ten pounds weight in two 
months. The last time I met her, she had 
the deepest aversion to all opiates and nar- 
cotics. 

I have since met many victims of the opium 
or morphine habits throughout the western 
states, who had taken many of the well 
known cures, yet, it is with regret I write, 
they most invariably relapse into a state 
worse than the former. With this class of 
patients, hypnotism is invaluable. 




HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 107 



Strange pbenomena* 

H young man, twenty-five years of age, a 
cigar maker, called at my office in 
Chicago one evening. He had been suffering 
for sometime with insomnia, and desired to 
try the hypnotic treatment. He was en- 
dormed, and quietly passed into the somnam- 
bulic stage. As a test he was handed an 
ordinary playing card, in such a manner that 
it was impossible for him to see the face; he 
was told to observe it closely, so that he 
might again recognize it. He scanned it in- 
tently for a few seconds, looking at the back 
only; he was then asked to select this card 
from a half-dozen others of the same pack, 
which he readily did; there was nothing extra- 
ordinary in that, as it is quite familiar to hyp- 
notists and magnetizers, but after he had 
received the requisite therapeutic suggestion, 
and had been dehypnotized, I asked him to 
explain by what means he identified that par- 
ticular card ? He answered, " because it had 
four spots upon it." He was correct; it was 



108 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

the four of diamonds, and he had certainly 
not seen its face. 

A young* man called one day, desiring* treat- 
ment by hppnotism for nervousness, produced 
by excessive use of alcholic stimulants. He 
proved extremely susceptible to hypnotic in- 
fluence; after four weeks treatment, he was 
entirely cured. He then offered himself as a 
subject for scientific experiment. He was 
thirty years of age, nervous temperament, 
occupation bartender. To induce hypnosis, 
it was necessary only to command him to 
sleep, and sleep was the result; he passed 
rapidly from the lethargic to the profound 
cataleptic state. I cannot attribute it to sug- 
gestion alone; however, even with this hyper- 
aesthetic sensitive; it was rather the result 
of will force, as if my attention were divided 
or attracted by some remarks of those pre- 
sent, the result was nothing more than 
lethargy, but in this instance, when the desire 
was concentrated for deep sleep it invariably 
resulted. One day, when in the hypnotic 
stage of active somnambulism, I recounted to 
him the following story : 

4 " Look out upon the harbor before you; look 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 109 

farther out upon the broad expanse of the 
ocean; see that large ship with full sail headed 
for the entrance; see the crew and passengers 
gathered upon the deck. You recognize that 
old, grey-haired lady standing aft, leaning 
upon the railing; you know her. She is your 
mother, but hold! What do we see now? 
The ship has struck a rock; she is sinking, 
sinking. Your mother with all on board, is 
lost, lost. ' ' He uttered a short, sharp cry, and 
fell to the floor, frothing at the mouth; his 
pulse having* risen to one hundred and forty. 
By placing my hand upon his heart, and assur- 
ing him of his mother's safety, he became 
quiet, though retaining the rigidity of cata- 
lepsy. After a few moments of light mas- 
sage, his muscles relaxed, and he was 
awakened; his pulse was quickly restored to 
normal. 

This same young man would crouch and en- 
deavor to hide under a table, when told that 
a terrible hailstorm was raging around him; 
in fact, he would take the most unreasonable 
suggestion without hesitation. 

The most interesting phenomena, by far, 
were obtained in the mesmeric state. Not- 



110 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

withstanding* the claims of Bertrand and fol- 
lowers of the Nancy school, it makes a great 
difference whether a subject is endormed by a 
brig'ht button or by pressing* upon the median 
nerve, or by holding* the thumbs, followed by 
passes. 

When I presssd upon the thumbs of this 
young* man, gazed into his eyes, and willed 
sleep by mental order alone, and afterward 
regulated the stag*e by passes, phenomena, 
though somewhat similar, yet differing* in 
many respects from those of hypnotism, were 
the result. In the hypnotic state, anyone 
could awaken him, in the mesmeric state, he 
recognized only the will of the magnetizer; 
when he was in a stage of light somnambu- 
lism, we attempted several times to demon- 
strate deferred suggestion; we failed in our 
first efforts, but unexpectedly succeeded on 
the fourth day. "The experiment was as fol- 
lows : 

The subject presented usually two well de- 
fined states during the magnetic seance, light 
sleep or somnambulism, and deep sleep, the 
latter of which was characterized by marked 
torpidity of the muscles; the former by great 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. Ill 

sensibility and ease of movement. A closer 
observation reveals at least four other slightly 
differing, yet very apparent, phases. When 
in the phase that might be termed somnambu- 
lic delerium, while holding his hand I pressed 
my forehead against that of the subject, 
ordering him mentally to walk twice around 
the house before entering, when he should 
arrive the following day at half past one; the 
time at which he usually came for experi- 
mental work. I said nothing regarding this 
suggestion until he (the subject) had been 
excused. I then made it known to the class, 
which consisted of several physicians, who 
were taking instruction in this line of work. 
They arrived early the next day to observe 
the result. At exactly half past one, the sub- 
ject appeared, opened the gate, stood for a 
moment, as if hesitating, then approached 
excitedly toward the house. We were observ- 
ing him through the shutters, which rendered 
it impossible for him to see us. When within 
a few paces of the door, he stopped suddenly, 
placed his right hand to his head as if he had 
forgotten something; he then walked hur- 
riedly around the house, as if still undecided. 



112 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

He passed around the second time, clenching 
his fist and muttering* to himself. He then en- 
tered, When I met him at the door, he 
exclaimed "Oh, I've found you!" "Well, 
said I, did you not expect to find me here?" 
"Yes, but it seemed to me, as if you were 
around the house, and desired me to seek 
you." 

We endeavored several times to repeat the 
experiment in various ways, but failed. There 
are so many conditions upon which success is 
dependent in all delicate tests, that the in- 
vestigator must not be discouraged by failure, 
as you may succeed when least expected, and 
fail under the most favorable conditions. 




IT 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 113 



flfoental SuoQestion at a distance* 

T has been proven that the concentrated 
thoughts of one can influence another 
at a distance. A case recently observed by 
myself confirms the possibility of the pro- 
jection of not only our thoughts, but of our 
spiritual individuality or astral body. I re- 
ceived an introduction to Professor D — , a 

young man, who had been giving private hyp- 
notic seances, and invited him to call upon 
me. He was faultlessly attired, and appeared 
content both with himself and the world; had 
traveled in India and recounted many inter- 
esting stories of the wonders he had seen in 
that far-off country. Among the things he 
spoke of, were the "Mystic Brotherhood of 
the Himalayas," and hinted at the depths of 
their research. In short, he was extremely 
entertaining, and we met quite often. One 
night I was awakened in my apartments, as 
by a cold draft. I became aware of a pres- 
ence in my room; I saw my newly made friend 
standing in the center of the room; his face 



114 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

was turned toward me, but he did not appear 
to be observing' me. I seemed too much over- 
come by surprise to attempt speech; he stood 
thus for a few seconds, when his voice, which 
seemed to come from afar, not unlike the trans- 
mission of the telephone, was heard. "I am 
in need of money," he said, " can you let me 
have fifty dollars?" Before I could reply he 
had vanished. I tried to become convinced 
of the fact that I had been dreaming", yet, if 
it was a vision, all of life must be likewise, as 
I was as wide awake then as I have ever been. 

The next day, he called as usual, and con= 
versed as cheerfully as before; as he was 
about to take his leave, however, he drew 
from his pocket a sealed envelope addressed 
to myself, and handed it to me, bidding* me a 
hasty adieu, left before I had time to read it, 
The contents were as follows : 
' 'Dear Doctor: — 

I have been disappointed in my expecta- 
tions, reg-arding* a money matter. Several 
times I have attempted to speak of it, but 
have been unable to overcome the embarrass- 
ment that attends the unusual circumstance 
which renders necessary an appeal to one, 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 115 

who, although a friend, is yet a stranger. I 
am in need of money; can you let me have fifty 
dollars? I will remit at once, upon my return 
home. Your friend. D." 

Whether the above incident was thought 
transference, projection of the astral body, or 
whether it was an impression received previ- 
ously, during* our conversation, I will leave for 
others to decide. 

Mr. Aubm Gauthier is one of the few mag- 
nctizcrs who have attempted to define the 
favorable and unfavorable conditions of 
thought transference. He states that : 

"1. Inanimate bodies do not interrupt action 
from a distance. 2. Plants assist it. 3. Cer- 
tain animals interfere with it. 4. A number 
of men may hinder it." And adds, that " In 
stormy weather it is difficult to magnetize, not 
only from a distance but even in the presence 
of the subject.'' For therapeutic use, the 
lethargic or primary stage is sufficient in 
trivial, or light nervous ailments. In graver 
organic disturbance, one of the deeper phases 
may be required. Before inducing hypnosis, 
or the magnetic sleep, the magnetizer should 
explain to the patient wherein his present 



116 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

disease or ailment is a departure from the 
normal or healthy state. He should endeavor 
to explain the mechanism of the deranged 
function, and after endorming the subject, 
should command a correction. As it is the 
unconscious or dual that you address, you will 
find it ever ready to execute your orders, even 
though in the waking state, they may be un- 
known to your patient. Of course, all hy- 
gienic precaution must be observed; too much 
must not be expected from hypnotism, but as 
an auxiliary, it will be found invaluable. 

Magnetism or mesmerism, i. e. where the 
patient is endormed by holding the thumbs or 
pressing upon the median nerves of the hands 
followed by passes, will be found highly use- 
ful in all chronic and stubborn ailments. 
Some of the most brilliant successes will at- 
tend the treatment of paralytics, hysteria, 
epileptics, etc. 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 117 



TIbe Iftniversal jflui&, 

HNCIENT records, including- the religi- 
ous works of all civilized nations, teach 
us that there existed in the past a closer con- 
nection between spirit and matter; dreams or 
visions had their significance; the signs of the 
heaven were of great import, and that sacred 
book, the Bible, recounts direct communica- 
tion between God and man. 

Some have advanced an hypothesis that the 
present race have lost in whole or in part one 
of the senses, the faint trace of which we at 
present term " intuition.' ' 

Since man has lost the sixth sense (if such 
were the correct expression), or since he has 
at least been denied the same degree of spir- 
itual intelligence with which his ancestors 
were endowed, he has devoted himself assidu- 
ously to secular affairs, the results of which 
can be seen in the numerous achievements of 
inventive genius, which aside from instruments 
of war, and labor-saving appliances, are di- 
rected mainly to the facilitation of transfer 



118 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

and communication. We live in an age of 
haste ! The two great incentives of the pres- 
ent generation seem to be, " The greed of 
gold, and thirst for pleasure." This may be 
called the practical age. Nearly all the 
legends of ancient lore are scoffed at and ridi- 
culed. We do not consider that many tra- 
ditions, which have acquired a grotesqueness 
by frequent repetition and faulty translations, 
were, no doubt, originally founded on truth. 
An excess in any direction is always a fault, 
so we must beware, lest we become credulous 
at the expense of skepticism. 

The tendency of the times, is to recognize 
nothing that cannot be demonstrated. If man 
would but reflect on the grandeur of the uni- 
verse, and realize what a small atom he is in 
the midst of creation, and furthermore, how 
imperfect are his senses, compared even to 
some of the lower animals, he would realize 
that the greatest and most sublime truths are 
not perceived through the medium of the five 
senses, but are impressed only upon the dual 
or spiritual part of man. 

Mental action, at a distance, has been af- 
firmed by many of the old magnetizers, and 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 119 

attested by many schools of psychical re- 
search. Among them will be found the name 
Mesmer, who was not the " charlatan," some 
of his contemporaries would have us be- 
lieve, but a proud, independent man, and 
withal, a patient investigator, deep thinker, 
and profound reasoner. He did not promul- 
gate his theories broadcast to the world, nor 
did he explain in his " Memoires '.' some of the 
more startling results, as he well knew the 
danger of a new truth or strange discovery, 
especially upon the minds of an unprepared 
public. He taught his doctrines to his dis- 
ciples, who were alone allowed to witness 
his experimental tests. Some of his discover- 
ies were confidentially imparted to a few 
friends, yet, notwithstanding this custom, he 
was the victim of derision, calumny, and if 
reports be true, to mendacity. 

He was a fluidist, a name which even now 
awakens ridicule among a certain class of 
meterialists who have exceeded themselves in 
trying to explain an immaterial subject, by 
attributing all psychic phenomena to imagi- 
nation, suggestion, etc. 

We will quote from " Memoire de F. A. 



120 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

Mesmer, Docteur en Medecine, sur ses De- 
courvertes" (1776) and also from the new 
edition with notes by Dr. Picher Granchamp, 
Paris, 1828. 

He explains, viz : " Whatever is amen- 
able to investigation may be expressed in two 
words, MATTER and motion. But to reach 
this conclusion, we must efface from our cog- 
nitions the superficial impress given to them 
by the senses. ' We acquire all ideas through 
the senses. The senses convey to us only 
properties, characters, accidents, attributes; 
the ideas of all these sensations are expressed 
by an adjective or epitheton, as hot, cold, 
fluid, solid, heavy, light shining, sonorous, 
etc. For these epitheta, substantives have 
been for convenience' sake, substituted. Soon 
the properties were substantified, we say heat, 
gravity, light, sound, etc., and lo ! the origin 
of metaphysical abstraction.' The substan- 
ces were multiplied, personified, hence ghosts, 
divinities, demons, genii, archaei and so on. 
'We still retain a certain number of these 
entities, which we must eliminate in order to 
get a clear view of phenomena. That is in 
general terms the end we purpose to attain." 
(p. 18). 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 121 

Matter presents several degrees of fluidity. 
Water is more fluid than sand, for it can fill 
the interstices between the grains of sand; 
air is more fluid than water, for it can be dif- 
fused through it; ether is more fluid than air. 
It is difficult to determine where this divisi- 
bility ends, but we may suppose there are 
still many degrees of this kind, and that there 
exists a universal primitive matter, the grad- 
uated concentration of which constitutes all 
the states of matter. However that may be, 
it must be allowed that all space is filled, 
and we may call the fluid which fills all, the 
UNIVERSAL, FlyUID. 

" Some physicians have already," says he, 
4 * recognized the existence of a universal fluid, 
but they have erred in defining its characters, 
in overloading it with properties and specific 
powers, that we cannot have cognizances of. 
This fluid exists, though we feel not its pres- 
ence. It is all around us, and with regard to 
it we are nearly in the same situation as 
fishes, which, no doubt, would be much sur- 
prised were one of themselves to declare that 
all the space between the bottom of the sea 
and the surface is filled with a fluid in which 



122 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

they live; that in this medium alone do they 
come tog-ether and go apart, and that it is the 
one means of their reciprocal relations." 

(p. 22). 

11 The universal fluid is simply the sum of 
all these series of matter in the highest state 
of division, through the movement of its par- 
ticles." By it the universe is fused and re- 
duced to one mass. All that can be predicted 
of it, is, that it is fluid by pre-eminence and, 
consequently, that it must in particular gov- 
ern transmission of motion more subtle than 
those affected by other and better known 
fluids. Water can give motion to a mill; the 
air transmits sound vibrations; the ether, light 
vibrations. The universal fluid transmits 
life vibrations. Each of these series answer 
to a degree of phenomena, and the vibrations 
of each of these cannot be perceived, save in 
a corresponding degree of the organization 
(i. e. of the aggregation) of matter." (p. 24.) 
Neither heat, nor light, nor electricity, nor 
magnetism is a substance, but they are ef- 
fects of motion in the different series of the 
universal fluid. While it is neither heavy nor 
elastic, etc., this fluid determines the phe- 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 123 

nomena of gravity, of cohesion, of attraction, 
etc., as results of the reactions of the motion 
communicated. 

" Properly speaking-, there is in nature no 
attraction; it is only a seeming" effect of com- 
municated movements, and in g-eneral, all 
properties, all so-called forces, are but a 
combined result of the org-anization of bodies, 
and of the movement of the fluid in which they 
exist." (p. 25). " This fluid it is that gov- 
erns the mutual influences of all bodies, and 
as these actions and reactions are, so to 
speak, symbolized in the mutual influence of 
the mag-net and iron, we may g-ive the name 
of universal magnetism to this general mutual 
influence. Nothing is exempt from this influ- 
ence, which may be more or less appreciable, 
but which theoretically has no limits. The 
heavenly bodies act upon us, and we react 
upon the heavenly bodies, as well as upon the 
bodies around us. The property of the ani- 
mal that makes it capable of such action and 
reaction may be called, by analogy with the 
mag-net, animal mag-netism (sphorism). Con- 
sequently magnetism, whether the universal 
or the animal mag-netism, is not a fluid, but an 



124 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

action; motion, not matter; transmission of 
motion, not an emanation of any kind. No 
displacement can take place without replace- 
ment, for all space is filled," (p. 39) "and 
that pre-supposes that if a motion of the 
subtle matter is produced in one body, there is 
forthwith produced a like motion in another 
similar body, capable of receiving* it, what- 
ever the distance between them." (p. 39). 

"Considering-," adds Mesmer, "that reci- 
procal action is general between bodies; that 
the mag-net furnishes us with the model of 
this g-eneral law; and that the animal body is 
susceptible of properties analogous to those of 
the mag-net, I hold the term Animal Magne- 
tism, which I have adopted, to be fully justi- 
fied ... I see with regret that this phrase 
is thoug-htlessly abused. When one has 
familiarized himself with it, he flatters him- 
self that he possesses the idea of the thing*, 
whereas he has only an idea of the word. As 
long* as my discoveries were regarded as chi- 
meras, the incredulity of some savants left to 
me all the glory of the discovery, but since 
they were compelled to recognize its reality, 
they have taken to quoting against me the 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 125 

writing's of the ancients, in which occur the 
phrases, ' universal fluid, magnetism, influ- 
ence,' and so on. We have to do, not with 
words, but with the thing, and above all with 
the usefulness of its application." (p. 47.) 

44 Life is but a manifestation of a subtle 
motion, the stoppage of which is death. 
Among the subtle motions, sensations hold a 
chief place; all actions are the result of sen- 
sations." (p. 49). The sense-organs corre- 
spond to different degrees of subtlety in the 
vibrations that influence us, and they are not 
capable of being influences, save by a special 
sort of vibrations; but nerve matter itself, as 
the supreme product of organization, is cap- 
able of being influenced directly by the most 
subtle vibrations of the most subtle matter; 
to wit : the universal fluid. This faculty, 
hitherto overlooked or misconceived, Mesmer 
calls, " the inner sense." 

In regard to this inner sense, (sens interieur) 
Ochorowicz says, "this term occurs oft in the 
history of psychology, but in a different sense. 
Even Aristotle deals with the question. After 
him, Albertus Magnus, Occam, Giordano 
Bruno, Cremonius, and many others speak of 



126 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

a sensus interior, or even of sensus interni. 
But the term has been employed either in the 
sense of a sensus communis, bringing - together 
all sensations, or in the sense of perception 
and consciousness of oneself. 

Commonly the psychologists did but tra- 
vesty the problem posed by Aristotle : * ' Must 
we suppose a sixth sense to see what the 
eye sees; to hear what the ear hears, etc," 
or else (as in modern psychology) they gave 
the name, ' ' inner sense ' ' to the faculty of per- 
ceiving the inward bodily sensations. The 
meaning given to it by Mesmer is different. 
He believes that nerve substance in general, 
and the grey matter in particular, can be af- 
fected directly by the vibrations of the uni- 
versal fluid. Herein he sees a souree of vague 
cognitions, commonly inappreciable, particu- 
larly by man, in whom the sense impressions 
and the development of reflection smother 
these faint perceptions; but in the animals, 
whose senses are less perfected, this purely 
cerebral sensibility makes up for the imper- 
fection of the senses, and in many way stakes 
their place. It puts them in relation with all 
nature; enables them to divine directions in 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 127 

space; to forefeel terrestrial or atmospheric 
changes; and in general forms the sort of un- 
conscious experience, to which we give the 
title, instinct. In man this faculty manifests 
itself only exceptionally, in normal sleep, and 
especially in somnambulism, when the ordi- 
nary senses are in abeyance, and there are no 
conscious thoughts to overpower it. 

"If it be true," says Mesmer, "as I shall 
endeavor to show, that we are affected by the 
enchainment of things and of events that suc- 
ceed one another, we may see the possibility 
of presentments and other like phenomena/' 
(p. 50). 

"In the state of 'crisis,' the somnam- 
bule's senses may extend to any distance. 
All nature seems to be present to them. Even 
dictates of will are communicated to them 
without regard to any of the conventional 
means. These faculties differ according to 
the individual" (p. 52); the most usual phe- 
nomena is for a somnambule to see the interior 
of his own body, or even of others' bodies. 
But it is a rare thing to find all t 1 iese facul- 
ties in the same person. • 

1 ' How can a man receive the impress of a 
will not his own?" 



128 PRACTICAL ASSAYS ON 

44 This communication can take place be- 
tween two individuals in the normal state 
only, when the movement resulting* from their 
thoughts is propagated to the vocal organs, 
and to the parts that serve to express the 
natural or the conventional signs; these move- 
ments are then transmitted to the air or to the 
ether as intermediaries, and are received and 
sensed by the external sense-organs. The 
same movements, thus modified by thought 
in the brain, and in the nerve substance, being 
communicated at the same time to the series 
of a subtle fluid, with which that nerve-sub- 
stance is In continuity can, independently and 
without the aid of air and ether, extend to an 
indefinite distance, and report direct to the 
inner sense of another individual." 

* * From this a notion may be had of how 
the wills of two individuals can communicate 
by their inner senses and consequently of how 
there may exist a reciprocity, an accord, a 
sort of understanding between two wills, 
which relation we may designate as rapport. " 
(p. 75). 

* 4 A.s this sort of sensations are not to be 
had, save through the mediation of fluids, as 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 129 

far exceeding* ether in subtility) as ether ex- 
cels common air, the means of expression 
fail me; it is, as though I wished to explain 
colors in terms of sound. I, therefore must 
needs supply the deficiency with the reflec- 
tions that may be made upon the constant 
presentations of human beings, and more par- 
ticularly of animals, with regard to the great 
occurrences of nature at distances all too 
great to be spanned by their ostensible organs; 
upon the irresistable attraction that causes 
birds and fishes to make their periodic migra- 
tions; finally upon all the relevant phenomena 
furnished to us by the crisis sleep (sommeil 
critique) of man." (p. 77). 

"These pre-sensations may relate also to 
the past or the future, for to see the past is 
simply to perceive the causes in the affects, 
and to see the future is to divine the effects 
from the causes. Whatever has been, has 
left traces; so, too, whatever is to be, is al- 
ready determined by the concatenation of 
causes." (p. 76). 

But why is the state of sleep better fitted 
than the waking state to manifest these dif- 
ferent transmissions ? Mesmer answers that 



130 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

question with the utmost precision. The 
reason is two-fold : 

1. "Because in sleep, the sense-functions 
are suspended" (p. 77) and the continuity of 
the common sensorium with the external or- 
gans, more or less broken. "The impressions 
of circumjacent things, therefore, are made, 
not upon the external organs of sense, but 
directly and immediately upon the very 
substance of the nerves. The inner sense 
thus becomes the sole organ of sensation." 
(p. 78). 

2. " Because, in consequence of the senses 
being in abeyance, the psychic functions of 
conscious memory, of imagination, reflection, 
etc., which depend upon the senses, directly 
or indirectly, are also suspended, and conse- 
quently the impressions made direct upon the 
cerebral substance," becomes perceptible by 
the very fact that they stand alone. "As 
it is, the immutable law of sensations that 
the stronger effaces the weaker, the latter 
may be perceptible in the absence of the 
former. If the impression of the stars is not 
perceptible to our vision in daytime as it is at 
night, though their action is the same, the 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 131 

reason is, that in the day it is effaced by the 
superior impression made by the presence of 
the sun." (p. 78). 

For individual transmission from man to 
man, we have to recognise two other con- 
ditions : 

1. That of rapport. "The special action 
between tw 7 o individuals is facilitated by a 
sort of accord, by the production, natural or 
artificial of a like tone of motion or of a like 
tonic motion, which makes a brain more sus- 
ceptible of a vibration belonging to the same 
category." (pp. 24, 75). 

2. That of education. ' ' For the perfection 
of this, crisis sleep not only varies according 
to the process (marche) of the crisis, and the 
temperaments and habitudes of the subjects, 
but also dspends very much upon a sort of edu- 
cation that can be given them in that state, 
and on the way in which you direct their 
faculties; in this respect the sleep may be 
compared to a telescope, the action of which 
differs, according to the means of adjust- 
ment." (p. 81). 

In a state favorable to transmission of all 
sorts, man enters into relation with all nature, 



132 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

and we might compare him to a liquid whose 
surface being in perfect equilibrium, reflects, 
like a mirror everything in the universe; faith- 
fully pictures all objects. But, fancy that 
surface ruffled by all sorts of shocks (impres- 
sions made upon the ordinary senses), and you 
shall see the liquid agitated by innumerable 
undulations and reactions, and the reflection 
of objects will disappear. 

But, plainly, it is but seldom that all these 
conditions of cerebral perceptivity are com- 
bined. Sundry observers, impressed by what 
they saw in exceptional cases, have supposed 
that they could at will develop lucid som- 
nambules. They forgot that it is always in 
the state of sleep that dreams are commingled 
with true sensations. They confound to- 
gether magnetism and somnambulism, and 
so exposed both to the ridicule of men of sense. 

Mesmer does not hide from himself the fact 
that in spite of all the reserve one may exer- 
cise with regard to so delicate a subject, it 
will be hard to convince those who have not 
themselves verified the phenomena. "Sup- 
pose," he says, " a people that of necessity 
must fall asleep at sundown, and that never 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 133 

awake until sunrise; such a people would 
have no conception of the magnificent spectacle 
of night. Were one to tell them that there 
are among* them, men in whom this wonted 
ordering of sleep and waking is disarranged, 
and who, awaking in the night have descried, 
at infinite distances, innumerable luminous 
bodies, new worlds, so to speak, one would 
doubtless be treated as a visionary, because 
of the vast difference between the opinions 
held on the one side and on the other. Such 
today, in the estimation of the multitude, are 
those who maintain that in sleep man has 
the faculty of broadening his sensations." 
(p. 80). 

"In the memoir I published in 1779," says 
Mesmer again, "I made known the reflections 
I had made many years previously, upon the 
universality of certain popular opinions which, 
as I believe, are the results of the most wide- 
spread and the most constant observation. 
There, anent, I said that I had undertaken 
the task of inquiring, what of useful and true 
might be contained in old time errors, and I 
felt warranted in asserting that among the 
vulgar opinions of all times (as imposition of 



134 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

hands, visions and oracles, influence of cer- 
tain metals, mystic action of man on man, 
evil eye, power of taming animals, communi- 
cation at a distance, presentiments and simul- 
taneous influences, sensation of yearning* and 
of prayer, transmission of health, strength 
and disease, etc.) there are few, however 
ridiculous, however extravagant they may 
seem, that may not be regarded as remnants 
of truths primitively recognized." (p. 3.) 

Mesmer thus recognized and explained the 
universal fluid. We can only add that had 
he realized the extreme and unbounded elas- 
ticity ef electricity, he would not have hesi- 
tated to have named the subtle fluid which 
permeates all space — electricity. It is this 
which has the limitless power of expansion 
to all parts of the universe, although of 
almost inconceivable rarity, it is ever ready 
to obey the unalterable law of attraction, as 
when electricity is generated by friction, it 
does not spring into existence from contact 
of the material used, but is attracted from 
the surrounding atmosphere. All phenomena 
of the heavens, notwithstanding hypotheses 
that have been advanced and, for a time, 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 135 

accepted are, when reduced by scientific ob- 
servations and deductions to the basis of 
truth, always found to be but another mani- 
festation of electricity, which pervades all 
space, ever ready to yield to the grand laws 
of nature, attraction and repulsion. 




136 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 



XTbeorp of a future State, 

£J^INCE the days of Pre-adamite Sultans 
€**? man has hoped and even longed for a 
future state of existence. All forms of religi- 
ous worship extend promises of a life here- 
after. Every nation, civilized or savage has 
conceived the idea of a God or Gods. Sav- 
ages recognize a deity in the sun, moon and 
stars, fire, water and the various atmospheric 
changes. We must, after even the most super- 
ficial observation of the wonderful and perfect 
effects with which we are surrounded ac- 
knowledge the existence of a supreme intelli- 
gence. The atheist assumes to discredit the 
very existence of a God. Yet, as he attributes 
the grand and sublime testimony with which 
he is confronted to the creations of nature, he 
is simply making a distinction of words 
without a perceptible difference. 

If a man and woman were created upon a 
fertile, yet uninhabited island without knowl- 
edge of the world and its customs they would 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 137 

secure abundance of appropriate food, from 
fishes of the lakes or streams and denizens of 
the forest; they would not long* depend upon 
what the earth spontaneously yielded, but 
would erect a crude habitation and cultivate 
the soil. They would propagate their specie 
without the dangers and difficulties of modern 
civilization. Their religion might be the 
worship of the sun. As primitive man, unin- 
fluenced by the teachings of enlightened 
Christianity has for countless ages made 
bows and salaams to this royal centre of our 
universe as its grateful and dazzling rays 
appeared above the eastern horizon, and why 
should he not, without, as we must suppose 
the revelation of sacred truth, look with ven- 
eration on this magnificent source of light, 
life and happiness? 

Mesmerism, i.e. magnetism has done much 
to illuminate the dark pall of doubt, hope and 
conflicting theories which might be said to 
encompass that line of demarcation which 
separates the material from the immaterial. 
Lucid somnambules have been known to anni- 
hilate both time and space; many attempts 
have been made to explain the phenomena by 



138 PRACTICAL ESSAYS ON 

which sensitives have been able to correctly 
describe places and persons whom they have 
never seen. At the command of the mesmer- 
ist the subject has been known to immediately 
describe the home and surrounding's of some- 
one present and notwithstanding* that in many 
instances the somnambule could not have pos- 
sibly had previous knowledge of the same. 
Scientists have offered numerous explanations 
of such phenomena. Some declaring- that the 
soul of the subject leaves its physical tene- 
ment for a short time and actually visits the 
scenes described. Others declare that in this 
state of mag-netic exaltation the subject is 
merely impressed by pictures that exist in 
either the mind of the mesmerist or someone 
of the spectators. Yet there are those w r ho 
declare that it is neither of the f oregfoing* and 
state that such phenomena are all due to the 
peculiar properties of what they term astral 
light. 

This is described as being the universal 
fluid which alone existed before the dawn of 
creation. It is this mysterious conception 
which is supposed to have responded to the 
4 'word" of the logos. It is said to retain 



HYPNOTISM AND MESMERISM. 139 

forever the images of everything* and to per- 
manently record the vibrations of light and 
sound. Mesmerism, self-development, cer- 
tain drugs and rarely hyperesthesia existing" 
from birth are said to place one upon that 
plane which enables them to attract to them- 
selves images of the present or past which 
are appreciable only to that portion of our 
individuality which is neither mind nor mat- 
ter; perhaps the soul. 

Howeyer, we are forced to recognize the 
existence of the trinity — mind, body and soul. 
If all ended at the grave, there would be a 
waste of intelligence or soul force which 
would be the first reversal of natures laws 
whereby nothing* can be lost — not a drop of 
water nor a grain of sand. They may enter 
into varying* combinations but their compon- 
ent parts must ever exist in the universe. So 
let us rest contented with the knowledge that 
unless the immutable order of natural laws 
shall be violently reversed at death, we must 
consider this life but a stage, or cycle in our 
onward journey toward the supreme being by 
whom we were called into existence. 



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